QQQ vs VFMV
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard US Minimum Volatility ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VFMV?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Blend.
VFMV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VFMV is less concentrated, with 15.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | VFMV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.13%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $455M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.73% |
| Holdings | 107 | 204 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +9.67% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +9.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +14.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +9.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -33.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $15,613 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 15.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 13, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2018 to Sep 18, 2026 (8.6 years).
QQQ vs VFMV 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 8.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VFMV Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard US Minimum Volatility ETF (VFMV) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while VFMV returned +9.01%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 9.67% for VFMV.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +14.55% for VFMV; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +9.32% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.13% annualized vs +9.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 13.2% for VFMV. 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 -33.6% for VFMV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VFMV charges 0.13%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $13 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.73% for VFMV.
Holdings Overlap
56.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VFMV also owns. 25.1% of VFMV's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
29 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 209 in VFMV, against full books of 107 and 204.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 176 positions for VFMV that do not appear in our book for QQQ (73.1% of the fund), and 67 for QQQ that do not appear in VFMV (40.9%).
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 QQQ | Weight in VFMV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 1.37% | 7.07% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 1.53% | 5.74% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 1.57% | 4.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 0.05% | 4.62% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 1.06% | 2.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 0.74% | 2.42% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 0.91% | 1.87% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.10% | 1.39% | 0.71% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 0.08% | 3.28% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.84% | 1.49% | 0.35% |
56.6% of QQQ is already inside VFMV.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or VFMV?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VFMV charges 0.13%. VFMV is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VFMV?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +9.01% for VFMV, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), QQQ annualized +19.13% vs +9.54% for VFMV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VFMV?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 13.2% for VFMV. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VFMV -33.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VFMV?
QQQ and VFMV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 VFMV?
56.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings VFMV also owns. 25.1% of VFMV's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 209 in VFMV.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VFMV?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VFMV yields 1.73%, so VFMV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VFMV better than QQQ?
VFMV has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VFMV is less concentrated, with 15.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.