QQQ vs VIS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Industrials ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VIS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VIS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VIS is less concentrated, with 31.2% 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 | VIS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $486.1B | $8.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.90% |
| Holdings | 107 | 399 |
| YTD Return | +17.54%Best | +11.10% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +16.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63%Best | +19.45% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18%Best | +12.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3%Best | 18.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -64.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407Best | $18,302 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 31.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 23, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (21.9 years).
QQQ vs VIS 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 21.9 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VIS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Industrials ETF (VIS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while VIS returned +16.99%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a gain of 11.10% for VIS.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.63% per year against +19.45% for VIS; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and +12.85% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.93% annualized vs +9.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 18.3% 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -64.9% for VIS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VIS charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.90% for VIS.
Holdings Overlap
3.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings VIS also owns. 9.2% of VIS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
VIS and QQQ share little of their money.
12 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 393 in VIS, against full books of 107 and 399.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 347 positions for VIS that do not appear in our book for QQQ (89.1% of the fund), and 84 for QQQ that do not appear in VIS (94.2%).
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 VIS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.47% | 1.21% | 0.74% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 0.42% | 1.18% | 0.76% |
| HONHoneywell International Inc. | 0.35% | 0.95% | 0.60% |
| HONAHoneywell Aerospace Inc | 0.28% | 0.94% | 0.66% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 0.31% | 0.85% | 0.54% |
| CTASCintas Corp. | 0.35% | 0.77% | 0.42% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 0.25% | 0.74% | 0.49% |
| RKLBRocket Lab Corporation | 0.19% | 0.71% | 0.52% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.22% | 0.57% | 0.35% |
| ODFLOld Dominion Freig | 0.20% | 0.54% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VIS 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 VIS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VIS charges 0.09%. VIS is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VIS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +16.99% for VIS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), QQQ annualized +14.93% vs +9.52% for VIS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VIS?
VIS has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 18.3% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VIS -64.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VIS?
QQQ and VIS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 VIS?
9.2% of VIS's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 9.2% of VIS's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 393 in VIS.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VIS?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VIS yields 0.90%, so VIS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VIS better than QQQ?
VIS has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VIS is less concentrated, with 31.2% 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.