QQQ vs VGI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund
Which is better, QQQ or VGI?
Large Cap Growth against Diversified Sectoral Bond.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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 | VGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.74% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $88M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 12.32% |
| Holdings | 107 | 646 |
| YTD Return | +21.16%Best | -4.82% |
| 1Y Return | +24.78%Best | -3.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.95%Best | +10.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.36%Best | +0.66% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -63.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,430Best | $10,334 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 11.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Diversified Sectoral Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 23, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2012 to Sep 24, 2026 (14.6 years).
QQQ vs VGI 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 VGI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Virtus Global Multi-Sector Income Fund (VGI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.78% while VGI returned -3.23%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.16% versus a loss of 4.82% for VGI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.95% per year against +10.12% for VGI; over five years the annualized figures are +15.36% and +0.66% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.56% annualized vs -2.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 14.2% for VGI. 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 -63.3% for VGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VGI charges 1.74%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $174 annually, a gap of $156 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 12.32% for VGI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 472 in VGI, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 68 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and VGI as of May 29, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 472 in VGI, against full books of 107 and 646.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 466 positions for VGI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (99.8% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in VGI (97.5%).
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 VGI 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 VGI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VGI charges 1.74%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $156 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VGI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.78% vs -3.23% for VGI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), QQQ annualized +18.56% vs -2.79% for VGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VGI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 14.2% for VGI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VGI -63.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VGI?
QQQ and VGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VGI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VGI yields 12.32%, so VGI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VGI is less concentrated, with 11.4% 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.