QQQ vs VGK
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VGK?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VGK 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 | VGK |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $38.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.81% |
| Holdings | 107 | 1,240 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +7.69% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +16.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +17.77% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | +8.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4%Best | 18.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -67.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $15,309 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 4, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 2005 to Sep 10, 2026 (21.5 years).
QQQ vs VGK 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 VGK Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while VGK returned +16.99%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 7.69% for VGK.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +17.77% for VGK; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and +8.89% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.82% annualized vs +3.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.5% compared with 18.4% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -67.3% for VGK. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VGK charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $6 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.81% for VGK.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings VGK also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VGK, our book for it covers 94.9% 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 VGK share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,178 in VGK, against full books of 107 and 1,240.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VGK 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 VGK?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VGK charges 0.06%. VGK is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VGK?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +16.99% for VGK, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), QQQ annualized +14.82% vs +3.52% for VGK. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VGK?
VGK has been the more volatile fund at 18.5% annualized versus 18.4% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VGK -67.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VGK?
QQQ and VGK have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 VGK?
At least 1.1% of QQQ's money is in holdings VGK also owns. Our book for VGK is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,178 in VGK.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VGK?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VGK yields 2.81%, so VGK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGK better than QQQ?
VGK 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.