QQQ vs VSLU
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VSLU?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.7%.
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 | VSLU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $498.6B | $566M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 321 | 920 |
| YTD Return | +22.67%Best | +11.51% |
| 1Y Return | +24.33%Best | +13.93% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.05%Best | +23.31% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.00%Best | +14.51% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -23.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,924Best | $19,689 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 52.7% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Applied Finance Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 29, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2021 to Oct 2, 2026 (5.4 years).
QQQ vs VSLU 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 5.4 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VSLU Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF (VSLU) is an ETF from Applied Finance Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% while VSLU returned +13.93%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.67% versus a gain of 11.51% for VSLU.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +29.05% per year against +23.31% for VSLU; over five years the annualized figures are +17.00% and +14.51% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 14.6% for VSLU. 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 -23.9% for VSLU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VSLU charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $49 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.42% for VSLU.
Holdings Overlap
62.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings VSLU also owns. 54.1% of VSLU's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
53 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 456 in VSLU, against full books of 321 and 920.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 394 positions for VSLU that do not appear in our book for QQQ (45.8% of the fund), and 43 for QQQ that do not appear in VSLU (35.4%).
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 VSLU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 10.79% | 2.34% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 10.23% | 2.43% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 7.87% | 1.99% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 6.75% | 3.60% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 4.29% | 1.22% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 2.65% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 0.27% | 4.58% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.95% | 0.33% | 1.62% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.64% | 0.49% | 1.15% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.60% | 0.50% | 1.10% |
62.4% of QQQ is already inside VSLU.
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 VSLU?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VSLU charges 0.49%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VSLU?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.33% vs +13.93% for VSLU, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VSLU?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VSLU. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VSLU -23.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VSLU?
QQQ and VSLU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 VSLU?
62.4% of QQQ's money is in holdings VSLU also owns. 54.1% of VSLU's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 53 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 456 in VSLU.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VSLU?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VSLU yields 0.42%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSLU better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.