QQQ vs VMFXX
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund Investor Class
Which is better, QQQ or VMFXX?
VMFXX costs less.
VMFXX has a lower expense ratio.
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 | VMFXX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.11%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $374.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 3.41% |
| Holdings | 107 | 320 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Money Market |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 13, 1981 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Price Return, 1Y Price Return, 3Y Price Return (annualized), 5Y Price Return (annualized), Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 1627 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QQQ has data through Sep 11, 2026 and VMFXX through Mar 29, 2022.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VMFXX charges 0.11%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $11 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 3.41% for VMFXX.
Structure and taxes
VMFXX is a mutual fund and QQQ is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 5 in VMFXX, totalling 99.9% and 1.4% 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 5 in VMFXX, against full books of 107 and 320.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VMFXX 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 VMFXX?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VMFXX charges 0.11%. VMFXX is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VMFXX?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VMFXX yields 3.41%, so VMFXX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VMFXX or QQQ in a taxable account?
QQQ is an ETF and VMFXX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VMFXX better than QQQ?
VMFXX has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.