QQQ vs VRAI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Virtus Real Asset Income ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VRAI?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VRAI is less concentrated, with 14.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | VRAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $18M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.80% |
| Holdings | 321 | 180 |
| YTD Return | +24.32%Best | +19.07% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +18.13% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.30%Best | +13.26% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.83%Best | +5.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.2% | 19.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -48.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,766Best | $13,294 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 14.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 7, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 8, 2019 to Oct 6, 2026 (7.7 years).
QQQ vs VRAI 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 7.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VRAI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Virtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while VRAI returned +18.13%. Year to date, QQQ is up 24.32% versus a gain of 19.07% for VRAI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +28.30% per year against +13.26% for VRAI; over five years the annualized figures are +16.83% and +5.86% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +22.26% annualized vs +4.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.2% compared with 19.7% for VRAI. 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 -48.9% for VRAI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VRAI charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $55 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 2.80% for VRAI.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings VRAI also owns. 3.0% of VRAI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
VRAI and QQQ share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 89 in VRAI, against full books of 321 and 180.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 76 positions for VRAI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (83.7% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in VRAI (97.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VRAI 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 VRAI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VRAI charges 0.55%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VRAI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +18.13% for VRAI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QQQ annualized +22.26% vs +4.90% for VRAI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VRAI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.2% annualized versus 19.7% for VRAI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VRAI -48.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VRAI?
QQQ and VRAI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 VRAI?
3.0% of VRAI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 3.0% of VRAI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 89 in VRAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VRAI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VRAI yields 2.80%, so VRAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VRAI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VRAI is less concentrated, with 14.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.