QQQ vs VOO
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 107 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | +11.98% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | +16.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +21.19% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +12.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $18,384 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large 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 VOO 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 VOO Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while VOO returned +16.45%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 11.98% for VOO.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +21.19% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.80% annualized vs +13.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VOO 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 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 53.6% of VOO's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
85 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 494 in VOO, against full books of 107 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 402 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for QQQ (45.5% of the fund), and 11 for QQQ that do not appear in VOO (3.3%).
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 VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 7.55% | 0.89% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 7.05% | 0.22% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 5.36% | 0.40% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 4.13% | 0.54% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 3.24% | 0.12% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.86% | 0.30% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.44% | 2.99% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 2.62% | 0.51% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.90% | 0.88% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.21% | 2.24% |
94.2% of QQQ is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or VOO?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VOO?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +16.45% for VOO, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQQ annualized +18.80% vs +13.37% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VOO?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VOO?
QQQ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and VOO?
94.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 53.6% of VOO's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 85 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VOO?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than QQQ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% 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.