CQQQ vs VXUS
Invesco China Technology ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, CQQQ or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | CQQQ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.0B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.28% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 185 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -15.28% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.94% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.70% | +19.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -7.95% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.0% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $6,609 | $15,260Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2009 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 10, 2026 (15.6 years).
CQQQ vs VXUS growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 15.6 years both funds cover.
CQQQ vs VXUS Performance
Invesco China Technology ETF (CQQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CQQQ returned -9.94% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, CQQQ is down 15.28% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, CQQQ compounded at +6.70% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -7.95% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.76% annualized vs +4.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CQQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.7% compared with 15.0% for VXUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -74.0% for CQQQ and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CQQQ charges 0.65% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $5 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CQQQ currently yields 2.28% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 175 holdings in CQQQ and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 93.8% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 142 positions appear in both.
142 positions in common, counted across the 175 positions we hold weights for in CQQQ and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 185 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CQQQ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc | 8.72% | 0.13% | 8.59% |
| 3690:SHMeituan-class B | 8.07% | 0.11% | 7.96% |
| 1024:HKKuaishou Technology | 3.89% | 0.03% | 3.86% |
| 1888:HKKingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd | 3.73% | 0.03% | 3.70% |
| 688256:SHCambricon Technologies Corp Common Stock | 2.49% | 0.01% | 2.48% |
| 688041:SHHygon Information Technolo-A Common Stock | 2.20% | 0.01% | 2.19% |
| 603986:SHGigadevice Semiconductor Beiji | 1.51% | 0.01% | 1.50% |
| 0020:HKSenseTime Group Inc | 1.40% | 0.01% | 1.39% |
| 9626:HKBilibili Inc | 1.26% | 0.01% | 1.25% |
| 9660:HKHorizon Robotics | 1.24% | 0.01% | 1.23% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CQQQ and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CQQQ or VXUS?
CQQQ has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CQQQ or VXUS?
Over the past year CQQQ returned -9.94% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CQQQ annualized +4.08% vs +4.76% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CQQQ or VXUS?
CQQQ has been the more volatile fund at 28.7% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: CQQQ -74.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both CQQQ and VXUS?
CQQQ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CQQQ or VXUS?
CQQQ yields 2.28% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than CQQQ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.