QQQ vs VEU
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard FTSE All World Ex US ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VEU?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VEU 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 | VEU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $68.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.48% |
| Holdings | 107 | 3,928 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | +13.85% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | +19.81% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | +9.40% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 17.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -62.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $15,671 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 2, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 8, 2007 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.5 years).
QQQ vs VEU 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 VEU Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard FTSE All World Ex US ETF (VEU) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while VEU returned +21.44%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a gain of 13.85% for VEU.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +19.81% for VEU; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and +9.40% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.69% annualized vs +3.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 17.7% for VEU. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -62.8% for VEU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VEU charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $4 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.48% for VEU.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VEU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VEU, our book for it covers 94.2% 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 VEU share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 3,645 in VEU, against full books of 107 and 3,928.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VEU 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 VEU?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VEU charges 0.04%. VEU is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VEU?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs +21.44% for VEU, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.69% vs +3.50% for VEU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VEU?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 17.7% for VEU. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VEU -62.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VEU?
QQQ and VEU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 VEU?
At least 1.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VEU also owns. Our book for VEU 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 3,645 in VEU.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VEU?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VEU yields 2.48%, so VEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VEU better than QQQ?
VEU 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.