A side-by-side comparison of Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF (IUS) and Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | IUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +8.93%✓ | -6.51% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.04%✓ | -0.68% |
| 1-Week Change | +0.68%✓ | -1.54% |
| 1-Month Change | +1.20%✓ | -9.55% |
| Current Price | $70.59 | $674.76 |
| AUM | $1.02B | $463.98B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.19% | 0.17%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24%✓ | 0.46% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | Quarterly |
| Inception Date | 2018-09-12 | 1999-03-10 |
| Holdings Count | 529 | 101 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | US Equity | US Equity |
| Beta | 0.77 | 1.25 |
| 52-Week High | $71.96 | $762.86 |
| 52-Week Low | $53.78 | $554.41 |
| 50-Day MA | $69.58 | $720.97 |
| 200-Day MA | $65.05 | $680.89 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | IUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +8.93%✓ | -6.51% |
| 1 Year | +26.01%✓ | +8.52% |
| 3 Year | +21.56%✓ | +21.47% |
| 5 Year | +13.95%✓ | +12.48% |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | +19.62%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 11.70% | 23.42% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.54 | 1.15 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 4.16% |
| 2 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 4.36% |
| 3 | BRK-B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc | 2.99% |
| 4 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.78% |
| 5 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 2.68% |
| 6 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 2.46% |
| 7 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 1.79% |
| 8 | CVX | Chevron Corp | 1.50% |
| 9 | UNH | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 1.37% |
| 10 | JNJ | Johnson & Johnson | 1.01% |
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 8.21% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.17% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 6.42% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 4.86% |
| 5 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.96% |
| 6 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 3.68% |
| 7 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 3.41% |
| 8 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 3.26% |
| 9 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 2.92% |
| 10 | WMT | Walmart Inc. | 2.88% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | IUS | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 2.41% | 1.08% |
| Communication Services | 10.67% | 12.46% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 11.68% | 12.08% |
| Consumer Defensive | 7.91% | 6.82% |
| Energy | 9.03% | 0.46% |
| Financial Services | 10.22% | 0.24% |
| Healthcare | 15.70% | 5.18% |
| Industrials | 8.77% | 5.54% |
| Real Estate | 0.59% | 0.00% |
| Technology | 22.36% | 58.09% |
| Utilities | 1.01% | 1.25% |
About IUS
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the underlying index. The Adviser employs a full replication methodology in seeking to track the underlying index, meaning that the fund generally invests in all of the securities comprising the index in proportion to their weightings in the index. The index is designed to measure the performance of equity securities of U.S. companies that tend to have larger, higher quality businesses.
About QQQ
To maintain the correspondence between the composition and weights of the securities in the trust (the securities) and the stocks in the NASDAQ-100 Index®, the adviser adjusts the securities from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the identity and/or relative weights of index securities. The composition and weighting of the securities portion of a portfolio deposit are also adjusted to conform to changes in the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both IUS and QQQ are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, IUS scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between IUS and QQQ?
IUS (Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.02B vs $463.98B), dividend yield (1.24% vs 0.46%), and year-to-date performance (+8.93% vs -6.51%).
Is IUS better than QQQ?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, IUS has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy IUS and QQQ on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both IUS and QQQ should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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