QQQ vs VFVA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard US Value Factor ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VFVA?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
VFVA has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VFVA over 1Y. VFVA is less concentrated, with 7.9% 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 | VFVA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.13%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $951M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.73% |
| Holdings | 107 | 693 |
| YTD Return | +15.21% | +18.29%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.78% | +24.24%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.58%Best | +17.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.93%Best | +12.04% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2%Best | 22.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -48.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,195Best | $17,655 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 7.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 13, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2018 to Sep 16, 2026 (8.6 years).
QQQ vs VFVA 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 VFVA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard US Value Factor ETF (VFVA) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% while VFVA returned +24.24%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.21% versus a gain of 18.29% for VFVA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.58% per year against +17.74% for VFVA; over five years the annualized figures are +13.93% and +12.04% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.82% annualized vs +10.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VFVA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% compared with 20.2% for QQQ. 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 -48.6% for VFVA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VFVA 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 VFVA.
Holdings Overlap
16.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings VFVA also owns. 6.5% of VFVA's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
QQQ and VFVA share little of their money.
22 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 688 in VFVA, against full books of 107 and 693.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 646 positions for VFVA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (91.1% of the fund), and 74 for QQQ that do not appear in VFVA (80.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in VFVA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 0.06% | 4.61% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 0.32% | 2.46% |
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.82% | 0.48% | 0.34% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.97% | 0.24% | 0.73% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 0.70% | 0.51% | 0.19% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.83% | 0.32% | 0.51% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 0.73% | 0.42% | 0.31% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.39% | 0.75% | 0.36% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 0.72% | 0.32% | 0.40% |
| INTUIntuit, Inc. | 0.39% | 0.65% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VFVA 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 VFVA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VFVA charges 0.13%. VFVA is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VFVA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.78% vs +24.24% for VFVA, so VFVA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), QQQ annualized +18.82% vs +10.96% for VFVA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VFVA?
VFVA has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 20.2% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VFVA -48.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VFVA?
QQQ and VFVA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 VFVA?
16.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings VFVA also owns. 6.5% of VFVA's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 688 in VFVA.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VFVA?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VFVA yields 1.73%, so VFVA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VFVA better than QQQ?
VFVA has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VFVA over 1Y. VFVA is less concentrated, with 7.9% 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.