QQQ vs VT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Total World Stock ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VT?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VT 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 | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $486.1B | $78.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.60% |
| Holdings | 107 | 10,133 |
| YTD Return | +17.54%Best | +14.49% |
| 1Y Return | +25.59%Best | +22.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.63%Best | +20.70% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18%Best | +10.77% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -47.0%Best | -50.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407Best | $16,677 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 24, 2008 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2008 to Sep 4, 2026 (18.2 years).
QQQ vs VT 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 18.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% while VT returned +22.58%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.54% versus a gain of 14.49% for VT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.63% per year against +20.70% for VT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and +10.77% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +16.57% annualized vs +7.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 16.6% for VT. 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 -47.0% for QQQ and -50.6% for VT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VT 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 0.44% against 1.60% for VT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 93.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VT, our book for it covers 90.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of QQQ is already inside VT. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
95 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 9,272 in VT, against full books of 107 and 10,133.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in VT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.44% | 4.00% | 4.44% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 3.59% | 3.68% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 2.38% | 3.38% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 1.98% | 2.69% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.12% | 3.31% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.13% | 1.81% | 1.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 1.51% | 1.65% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 0.81% | 2.64% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.78% | 1.06% | 1.72% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 2.56% | 1.05% | 1.51% |
93.2% of QQQ is already inside VT.
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 VT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VT charges 0.06%. VT is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +25.59% vs +22.58% for VT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), QQQ annualized +16.57% vs +7.35% for VT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VT?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 16.6% for VT. Worst drawdown: QQQ -47.0% vs VT -50.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VT?
QQQ and VT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 VT?
At least 93.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VT also owns. Our book for VT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 95 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 9,272 in VT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VT yields 1.60%, so VT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VT better than QQQ?
VT 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.