QQQ vs VCLT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VCLT?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term Bond.
VCLT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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 | QQQ | VCLT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $9.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 5.66% |
| Holdings | 107 | 2,856 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -1.89% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | -3.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | +5.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | -2.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 10.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Tie | -35.1%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $8,632 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 19, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2009 to Sep 17, 2026 (16.8 years).
QQQ vs VCLT 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.
QQQ vs VCLT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCLT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while VCLT returned -3.31%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 1.89% for VCLT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +5.08% for VCLT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and -2.90% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.26% annualized vs +1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 10.7% for VCLT. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -35.1% for VCLT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VCLT charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 5.66% for VCLT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 15.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VCLT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VCLT, our book for it covers 71.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and VCLT share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,645 in VCLT, against full books of 107 and 2,856.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VCLT 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, QQQ or VCLT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VCLT charges 0.03%. VCLT is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VCLT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -3.31% for VCLT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), QQQ annualized +18.26% vs +1.43% for VCLT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VCLT?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 10.7% for VCLT. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VCLT -35.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VCLT?
QQQ and VCLT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and VCLT?
At least 15.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VCLT also owns. Our book for VCLT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,645 in VCLT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VCLT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VCLT yields 5.66%, so VCLT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCLT better than QQQ?
VCLT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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.