QQQ vs VOX
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Communication Services ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VOX?
QQQ has been ahead.
VOX has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.2%.
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 | VOX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $6.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 107 | 115 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | +0.87% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | +2.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +22.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | +6.67% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -57.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $13,811 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 68.2% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 23, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2004 to Sep 15, 2026 (22 years).
QQQ vs VOX 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 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VOX Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while VOX returned +2.46%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 0.87% for VOX.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +22.72% for VOX; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +6.67% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +14.80% annualized vs +8.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 16.7% for VOX. 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 -57.2% for VOX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VOX 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 1.05% for VOX.
Holdings Overlap
13.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VOX also owns. 60.8% of VOX's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 112 in VOX, against full books of 107 and 115.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for VOX that do not appear in our book for QQQ (37.3% of the fund), and 87 for QQQ that do not appear in VOX (84.3%).
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 VOX | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 20.31% | 17.53% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 14.40% | 11.04% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 7.79% | 4.66% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 1.37% | 4.21% | 2.84% |
| TMUST-Mobile Us Inc Com Usd0.00001 | 0.82% | 2.97% | 2.15% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.39% | 3.29% | 2.90% |
| SPCXSpace Exploration Technologies | 0.91% | 2.37% | 1.46% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.29% | 2.84% | 2.55% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 0.19% | 2.64% | 2.45% |
60.8% of VOX 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 VOX?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VOX charges 0.09%. VOX is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VOX?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +2.46% for VOX, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), QQQ annualized +14.80% vs +8.84% for VOX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VOX?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 16.7% for VOX. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs VOX -57.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VOX?
QQQ and VOX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 VOX?
60.8% of VOX's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 60.8% of VOX's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 112 in VOX.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VOX?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VOX yields 1.05%, so VOX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOX better than QQQ?
VOX has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.