IJR vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 26, 2000 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did IJR beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from May 26, 2000 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, IJR came out ahead: $126,983 versus $109,590 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.2% annual return against 9.6%.
What would $10,000 in IJR be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) on May 26, 2000 would be worth about $126,983 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1169.8% (10.2% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $109,590.
Which was riskier — IJR or QQQ?
IJR swung with an annualized volatility of 23.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -58.2%; QQQ ran at 25.8% volatility with a -80.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.36 for IJR vs 0.29 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 26, 2000 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with IJR vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.