QQEW vs VOO
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, QQEW or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QQEW led over the full window, VOO over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. QQEW is less concentrated, with 25.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | QQEW | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 102 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +11.31% | +12.50%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.57% | +17.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.04% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.83% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.1%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,914 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.7%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2006 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16 years).
QQEW vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
QQEW vs VOO Performance
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Select Equal Weight ETF (QQEW) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQEW returned +14.57% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, QQEW is up 11.31% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, QQEW compounded at +14.04% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +6.83% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQEW has the edge at +13.84% annualized vs +13.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQEW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -32.1% for QQEW and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQEW charges 0.55% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQEW currently yields 0.19% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
90.1% of QQEW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 39.8% of VOO's money is in holdings QQEW also owns.
Most of QQEW is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, QQEW as of Sep 1, 2026 and VOO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
45 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 505 in VOO, against full books of 102 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 451 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for QQEW (59.6% of the fund), and 3 for QQEW that do not appear in VOO (5.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQEW | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.03% | 7.51% | 5.48% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.97% | 6.59% | 4.62% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.18% | 4.30% | 2.12% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.61% | 2.77% | 1.16% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 0.86% | 3.25% | 2.39% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.91% | 2.02% | 0.11% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.75% | 1.92% | 0.17% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.86% | 2.59% | 1.73% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.77% | 1.47% | 0.30% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks Inc. | 2.63% | 0.43% | 2.20% |
90.1% of QQEW is already inside VOO.
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, QQEW or VOO?
QQEW has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQEW or VOO?
Over the past year QQEW returned +14.57% vs +17.58% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQEW annualized +13.84% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQEW or VOO?
QQEW has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: QQEW -32.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both QQEW and VOO?
QQEW and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 QQEW and VOO?
90.1% of QQEW's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 39.8% of VOO's is in holdings QQEW also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in QQEW and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQEW or VOO?
QQEW yields 0.19% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than QQEW?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QQEW led over the full window, VOO over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. QQEW is less concentrated, with 25.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.