IEFA vs QQQ
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.07%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.46%. Launched in 2012, the fund has a 14-year track record.
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Invesco that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.18%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.48%. Launched in 1999, the fund has a 27-year track record.
Quick Verdict
IEFA is significantly cheaper at 0.07% vs 0.18% expense ratio, saving you approximately $218 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. QQQ has edged ahead over the past year (23.6% vs 21.2%). Income investors may prefer IEFA for its higher yield (3.5% vs 0.5%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 9 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
IEFA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 2.18% |
| AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN | 1.25% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 1.21% |
| Roche Holding AG!swx/ROP | 1.17% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 1.16% |
| Shell plc!lon/SHEL | 1.12% |
| Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN | 1.05% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation!tyo/7203 | 0.85% |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia!asx/CBA | 0.85% |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.!tyo/8306 | 0.81% |
QQQ Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 8.55% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 7.67% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 5.56% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.49% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.79% |
| Walmart Inc.WMT | 3.48% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 3.26% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 3.13% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.99% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose IEFA if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose QQQ if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose IEFA if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.