QQQ vs VRIG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VRIG?
Large Cap Growth against Investment Grade Bond.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VRIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.30% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.59% |
| Holdings | 107 | 347 |
| YTD Return | +21.18%Best | +2.71% |
| 1Y Return | +24.36%Best | +4.12% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.99%Best | +5.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.39%Best | +4.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 3.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -14.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,457Best | $12,504 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Investment Grade Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 20, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2016 to Sep 23, 2026 (10 years).
QQQ vs VRIG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs VRIG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Invesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF (VRIG) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +24.36% while VRIG returned +4.12%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.18% versus a gain of 2.71% for VRIG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.99% per year against +5.51% for VRIG; over five years the annualized figures are +15.39% and +4.57% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.45% annualized vs +2.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 3.4% for VRIG. 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 -14.3% for VRIG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.34. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VRIG charges 0.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $30 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.59% for VRIG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 273 in VRIG, totalling 99.9% and 57.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 273 in VRIG, against full books of 107 and 347.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VRIG 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 VRIG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VRIG charges 0.30%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VRIG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.36% vs +4.12% for VRIG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), QQQ annualized +20.45% vs +2.35% for VRIG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VRIG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 3.4% for VRIG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VRIG -14.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VRIG?
QQQ and VRIG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.34, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VRIG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VRIG yields 4.59%, so VRIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VRIG better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.