QQQ vs VOT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VOT?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
VOT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOT is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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 | VOT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $486.1B | $19.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.62% |
| Holdings | 107 | 129 |
| YTD Return | +17.54%Best | +7.07% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +4.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63%Best | +14.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18%Best | +4.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 18.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -60.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407Best | $12,474 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 21.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Aug 17, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 24, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (20 years).
QQQ vs VOT 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 20 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VOT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF (VOT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while VOT returned +4.51%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a gain of 7.07% for VOT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.63% per year against +14.30% for VOT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and +4.52% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.96% annualized vs +9.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 18.5% for VOT. 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 VOT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VOT charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $5 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.62% for VOT.
Holdings Overlap
7.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings VOT also owns. 30.7% of VOT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
26 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 121 in VOT, against full books of 107 and 129.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 91 positions for VOT that do not appear in our book for QQQ (66.5% of the fund), and 70 for QQQ that do not appear in VOT (89.8%).
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 VOT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| STXSeagate Technology Holdings Plc | 0.83% | 2.37% | 1.54% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 0.79% | 2.41% | 1.62% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.41% | 1.89% | 1.48% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.42% | 1.77% | 1.35% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.27% | 1.66% | 1.39% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 0.37% | 1.50% | 1.13% |
| ROSTRoss Stores, Inc. | 0.36% | 1.50% | 1.14% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.28% | 1.46% | 1.18% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 0.29% | 1.42% | 1.13% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 0.53% | 1.05% | 0.52% |
30.7% of VOT is already inside QQQ.
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 VOT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VOT charges 0.05%. VOT is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VOT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +4.51% for VOT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.96% vs +9.47% for VOT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VOT?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 18.5% for VOT. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VOT -60.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VOT?
QQQ and VOT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 VOT?
30.7% of VOT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 30.7% of VOT's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 121 in VOT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VOT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VOT yields 0.62%, so VOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOT better than QQQ?
VOT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VOT is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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.