QQQ vs VDG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Developed Markets ex-US Growth Index ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VDG?
VDG costs less.
VDG has a lower expense ratio. VDG is less concentrated, with 21.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | VDG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $33M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.31% |
| Holdings | 321 | 647 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | +6.00% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 21.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 31, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
QQQ vs VDG 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 VDG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Developed Markets ex-US Growth Index ETF (VDG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 6.00% for VDG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VDG charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $8 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.31% for VDG.
Holdings Overlap
1.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings VDG also owns. 5.5% of VDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
VDG and QQQ share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 612 in VDG, against full books of 321 and 647.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for VDG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (1.4% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in VDG (97.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VDG 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 VDG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VDG charges 0.08%. VDG is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and VDG?
5.5% of VDG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 5.5% of VDG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 612 in VDG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VDG?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VDG yields 0.31%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VDG better than QQQ?
VDG has a lower expense ratio. VDG is less concentrated, with 21.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.