IPGP vs QQQ Stock Comparison

QQQ currently leads IPGP in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 51 vs 44. The clearest difference is quality, while IPGP has the stronger momentum profile.

Market data as of Oct 21, 2026 market close· AIQ score gap 7 points
IPGP
Technology
vs
QQQ
Equity
IPGP
IPG Photonics Corporation
Price
$74.03
Day move
+2.12%
AIQ Score
44/100
Best edge
Momentum
Sector
Technology
QQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Leads
Price
$725
Day move
+1.05%
AIQ Score
51/100
Best edge
Quality
Sector
Equity

What is the main difference between IPGP and QQQ?

QQQ leads the current stock comparison as Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.

AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison

IPG Photonics Corporation vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Data as of Oct 21, 2026· market close· IPGP (stock) vs QQQ (ETF)· Coverage 65/66 fields· 42/42 directly comparable· Moderate confidence
AIQ VerdictFragileAIQ Comparison Conviction 5/10

QQQ leads

QQQ leads by 7 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Risk Resilience, but the lead has narrowed from 18 points over 30 sessions.

Fragile: 3 of 4 evidence groups support QQQ, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.

Evidence agreement: 3 of 4Comparison trend: Weakening
IPGP

IPG Photonics Corporation

AIQ Score
44/100
AIQ Edge Score
4/10
QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1

Leads
AIQ Score
51/100
AIQ Edge Score
4/10

The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors QQQ over IPGP, 51 versus 44 as of Oct 21, 2026. QQQ's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and risk resilience, while IPGP holds the stronger momentum profile. QQQ also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 7 points over 30 sessions.

Compare IPG Photonics Corporation and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.

Currently unavailable

Performance over time

Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.

IPGP
-54.6%
QQQ
+95.6%

Total return comparison

Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested

IPGP $4,541 · QQQ $19,562

Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.

Compare IPGP and QQQ against another ticker

Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.

Basic: 2 symbols·Explorer: 3 symbols·Pro and Premium: 5 symbols·Your limit: 2

AIQ Factor Divergence

Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.

IPGP advantage
0
QQQ advantage
  • Quality48 vs 82
    QQQ +34
  • Momentum28 vs 21
    IPGP +7
  • Value41 vs 35
    IPGP +6
  • Risk Resilience66 vs 72
    QQQ +6

3 of 4 evidence groups favor QQQ. QQQ’s edge is concentrated in quality and risk resilience; IPGP keeps a meaningful momentum edge.

What changed since the last close

Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.

IPGP+1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum +1

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 5 active signals are unchanged.

QQQ-1 AIQ

Largest factor move: Momentum -2

No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 3 active signals are unchanged.

QQQ's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.

Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — IPGP and QQQ both carry a full feed there.

The central trade-off

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and risk resilience.

IPGP (IPG Photonics Corporation): the counter-case, on momentum, value, valuation — but at materially higher volatility, 38.8% against 15.4%.

Which one fits your objective

The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.

Balanced

QQQ

QQQ on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.

Growth

Even

Growth figures are not covered for both names.

Value

IPGP

IPGP on the peer-relative Value factor, by 6 points.

Momentum

IPGP

IPGP on the Momentum factor, by 7 points.

Lower downside

QQQ

QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 6 points.

Analyst upside

Even

Analyst targets are level or not covered for both names.

AIQ vs Wall Street

Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.

MeasureIPGPQQQNote
Implied upside to target+71.6%—Level
Target dispersion+32.3%—Lower is tighter analyst agreement
ConsensusBuy—Context, not a primary driver
Analysts covering2—Higher coverage generally improves confidence

Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

AIQ Agreement Matrix

3 of 4 covered evidence groups favor QQQ. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.

Evidence groupFavorsReading
AIQ ScoreQQQ44 vs 51
FundamentalsNot coveredNot covered
ValuationIPGPValue 41 vs 35
TechnicalsQQQPrice vs 50-day -5% vs -0.2%; vs 200-day -28.5% vs 6.2%
Risk ResilienceQQQRisk Resilience 66 vs 72
Analyst expectationsNot coveredNot covered

✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of IPGP and QQQ and are excluded from the count.

AIQ Decision Stability

Fragile

The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.

  • The AIQ gap is moderate at 7 points.
  • The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
  • The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)

Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on QQQ.

How the comparison changed

120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 7 points over 30 sessions.

Jun 21IPGP leads above the line · QQQ leads belowOct 20
Today
QQQ +7
44 vs 51
7 sessions ago
QQQ +13
44 vs 57
30 sessions ago
QQQ +18
47 vs 65
90 sessions ago
QQQ +20
47 vs 67

The lead has not changed hands in this window.

AIQ Signal Divergence

Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.

IPGP

0 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral

Only IPGP

  • Death Cross Active — bearish, trend, long horizon (30.10%)
  • ATR Expansion - Breakout Mode — neutral, volatility, short horizon (4.58%)
  • 52-Week Low Proximity — bearish, risk, long horizon (0.8%)
  • Downtrend Structure Active — bearish, trend, long horizon
QQQConflicted

1 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted

Only QQQ

  • Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (7.50%)
  • Keltner Channel Breakdown — bearish, volatility, short horizon

Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: MACD Bearish Crossover.

QQQ leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.

Price vs model alignment

Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.

IPGPConfirmed strength

Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +2.12%, AIQ +1 points).

QQQDivergence

Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 1 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +1.05%, AIQ -1 points).

What would flip this result

A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.

  1. 1IPGP closes the Quality gap — currently 34 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge.
  2. 2IPGP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it.
  3. 3QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once.
  4. 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 7-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

The full evidence

Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.

Fundamentals

Split
MetricIPGPQQQ
Revenue growth (YoY)4.9%—
EPS growth (YoY)200%—
Gross margin38.4%—
Operating margin0.7%—
Return on equity (TTM)1.3%—
Debt to equity0.01—

Performance

QQQ leads 6 of 6 windows
MetricIPGPQQQ
1 week (5 sessions)-4.4%-3.5%
1 month (20 sessions)-7.3%-4%
3 months (63 sessions)-25.9%1.7%
6 months (126 sessions)-41.5%11.4%
Year to date1.2%16.8%
1 year (252 sessions)-16%19.6%

Technicals

QQQ has the stronger structure
MetricIPGPQQQ
RSI (14)36.737.2
ADX (14)16.420.3
Price vs 50-day-5%-0.2%
Price vs 200-day-28.5%6.2%
Volatility (1M, annualized)38.8%15.4%

Risk

QQQ is the more resilient
MetricIPGPQQQ
Beta2.031.45
Sharpe ratio0.080.77
Sortino ratio0.111.2
Max drawdown-54%-12.2%
Current drawdown-52.9%-5.5%
Annualized volatility72%19.9%
Value at risk (95%)-6.3%-1.9%

Straight answers

Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.

Which is better, IPGP or QQQ?

On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, QQQ is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 51 against IPGP's 44. The edge comes from quality and risk resilience. IPGP is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.

Is IPGP or QQQ the better buy right now?

QQQ carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 3 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the leader's advantage has been narrowing. Treat the lead as provisional.

Why does the AIQ Score favor QQQ over IPGP?

The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. QQQ leads Quality by 34 points; IPGP leads Momentum by 7 points; IPGP leads Value by 6 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.

Which has more analyst upside, IPGP or QQQ?

Analyst price targets imply +71.6% upside for IPGP and not covered for QQQ. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.

Which is better value, IPGP or QQQ?

IPGP is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. IPGP on the peer-relative Value factor, by 6 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.

Which has stronger growth, IPGP or QQQ?

Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.

Which has stronger momentum, IPGP or QQQ?

IPGP on the Momentum factor, by 7 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.

Which is riskier, IPGP or QQQ?

QQQ is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. QQQ on Risk Resilience, by 6 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.

Is IPGP more profitable than QQQ?

Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.

Is QQQ's lead over IPGP getting stronger or weaker?

QQQ lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 7 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has not changed hands in that window.

What would change the IPGP vs QQQ verdict?

The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: IPGP closes the Quality gap — currently 34 points behind, the largest single contributor to QQQ's edge; IPGP's Death Cross Active resolves — a bearish trend rule currently active against it; QQQ's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 2 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 11 points over 30 sessions, and a further 7-point move would eliminate QQQ's advantage entirely.

What do the current signals say about IPGP and QQQ?

IPGP: 0 bullish / 4 bearish / 1 neutral. QQQ: 1 bullish / 2 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on IPGP is Death Cross Active (bearish, long horizon). On QQQ it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).

Continue your research

This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.

How this comparison is scored

The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.

The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.

How to use side-by-side comparison →

This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.