QQQ vs VIOO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VIOO?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Blend.
VIOO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VIOO over 1Y. VIOO is less concentrated, with 5.1% 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 | VIOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.13% |
| Holdings | 107 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +15.94% | +16.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.44% | +20.72%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +14.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +7.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3%Best | 18.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -44.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $14,091 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 5.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 14, 2026 (16 years).
QQQ vs VIOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VIOO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF (VIOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while VIOO returned +20.72%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 16.81% for VIOO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +14.97% for VIOO; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +7.10% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.80% annualized vs +12.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VIOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 17.3% 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 -44.1% for VIOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VIOO charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $7 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.13% for VIOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 601 in VIOO, totalling 99.9% and 99.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 601 in VIOO, against full books of 107 and 613.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 591 positions for VIOO that do not appear in our book for QQQ (97.7% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in VIOO (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 VIOO 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 VIOO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VIOO charges 0.07%. VIOO is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VIOO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +20.72% for VIOO, so VIOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQQ annualized +18.80% vs +12.14% for VIOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VIOO?
VIOO has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 17.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VIOO -44.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VIOO?
QQQ and VIOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 VIOO?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VIOO yields 1.13%, so VIOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VIOO better than QQQ?
VIOO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VIOO over 1Y. VIOO is less concentrated, with 5.1% 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.