QQQ vs VO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VO?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Blend.
VO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VO is less concentrated, with 9.5% 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 | VO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $106.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.30% |
| Holdings | 107 | 289 |
| YTD Return | +15.86%Best | +10.66% |
| 1Y Return | +22.63%Best | +12.62% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.15%Best | +15.76% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.16%Best | +7.24% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -60.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,390Best | $14,184 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 9.5%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 26, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2004 to Sep 10, 2026 (22.6 years).
QQQ vs VO 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 22.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap ETF (VO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% while VO returned +12.62%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.86% versus a gain of 10.66% for VO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.15% per year against +15.76% for VO; over five years the annualized figures are +14.16% and +7.24% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.10% annualized vs +9.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 16.9% for VO. 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 -60.3% for VO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.30% for VO.
Holdings Overlap
10.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings VO also owns. 18.9% of VO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
VO and QQQ share little of their money.
40 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 279 in VO, against full books of 107 and 289.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 228 positions for VO that do not appear in our book for QQQ (76.1% of the fund), and 55 for QQQ that do not appear in VO (86.2%).
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 VO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| STXSeagate Technology Plc | 0.83% | 1.05% | 0.22% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 0.79% | 1.06% | 0.27% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.41% | 0.83% | 0.42% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 0.42% | 0.78% | 0.36% |
| DASHDoordash Inc | 0.37% | 0.66% | 0.29% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.36% | 0.66% | 0.30% |
| TERTeradyne Inc | 0.27% | 0.73% | 0.46% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc. | 0.53% | 0.46% | 0.07% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.28% | 0.65% | 0.37% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 0.31% | 0.61% | 0.30% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VO 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 VO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VO charges 0.03%. VO is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.63% vs +12.62% for VO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), QQQ annualized +14.10% vs +9.04% for VO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VO?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 16.9% for VO. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VO -60.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VO?
QQQ and VO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 VO?
18.9% of VO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 18.9% of VO's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 279 in VO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VO?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VO yields 1.30%, so VO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VO better than QQQ?
VO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VO is less concentrated, with 9.5% 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.