QLD vs VTI
ProShares Ultra QQQ vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QLD or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QLD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
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 | QLD | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13.8B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.13% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 127 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +24.16%Best | +11.53% |
| 1Y Return | +30.59%Best | +15.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +40.16%Best | +20.67% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.65%Best | +11.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 38.0% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,599Best | $17,303 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2006 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 21, 2006 to Sep 15, 2026 (20.2 years).
QLD vs VTI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QLD vs VTI Performance
ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QLD returned +30.59% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, QLD is up 24.16% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.
Over three years, QLD compounded at +40.16% per year against +20.67% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +16.65% and +11.59% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QLD has the edge at +24.00% annualized vs +9.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 38.0% compared with 15.7% for VTI. 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 -84.0% for QLD and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLD charges 0.95% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $3 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLD currently yields 0.13% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 47.5% of VTI's money is in holdings QLD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for QLD, our book for it covers 78.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
91 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in QLD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 127 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QLD | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.84% | 6.40% | 0.56% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.08% | 6.29% | 1.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.12% | 4.79% | 0.67% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.05% | 3.65% | 0.60% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.16% | 2.90% | 0.74% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.26% | 1.29% | 1.97% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.92% | 2.56% | 0.64% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.00% | 2.31% | 0.31% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.85% | 1.70% | 0.15% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.31% | 1.08% | 1.23% |
47.5% of VTI is already inside QLD.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QLD or VTI?
QLD has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLD or VTI?
Over the past year QLD returned +30.59% vs +15.74% for VTI, so QLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QLD annualized +24.00% vs +9.67% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLD or VTI?
QLD has been the more volatile fund at 38.0% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: QLD -84.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both QLD and VTI?
QLD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QLD and VTI?
At least 47.5% of VTI's money is in holdings QLD also owns. Our book for QLD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 91 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in QLD and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QLD or VTI?
QLD yields 0.13% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QLD?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QLD led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.