QQQ vs VSS
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VSS?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Growth.
VSS 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 | VSS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $12.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 3.10% |
| Holdings | 321 | 4,876 |
| YTD Return | +21.44%Best | +7.25% |
| 1Y Return | +23.58%Best | +11.13% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.86%Best | +17.47% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.25%Best | +5.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 17.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -46.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,231Best | $13,351 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Apr 2, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 6, 2009 to Oct 1, 2026 (17.5 years).
QQQ vs VSS 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 VSS Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +23.58% while VSS returned +11.13%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.44% versus a gain of 7.25% for VSS.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.86% per year against +17.47% for VSS; over five years the annualized figures are +16.25% and +5.95% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.87% annualized vs +7.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 17.2% for VSS. 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 -46.8% for VSS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VSS charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $6 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 3.10% for VSS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 4,619 in VSS, totalling 99.9% and 92.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, QQQ as of Sep 15, 2026 and VSS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 4,619 in VSS, against full books of 321 and 4,876.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VSS 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 VSS?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VSS charges 0.06%. VSS is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VSS?
Over the past year QQQ returned +23.58% vs +11.13% for VSS, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), QQQ annualized +19.87% vs +7.31% for VSS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VSS?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 17.2% for VSS. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VSS -46.8%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VSS?
QQQ and VSS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 VSS?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VSS yields 3.10%, so VSS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSS better than QQQ?
VSS 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.