QQQ vs VTES
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VTES?
Large Cap Growth against Municipal Bond.
VTES has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | VTES |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $2.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 2.74% |
| Holdings | 107 | 3,326 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | -0.32% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +0.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +2.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 2.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -2.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $24,962Best | $10,899 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 7, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 9, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.5 years).
QQQ vs VTES 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 VTES Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VTES) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while VTES returned +0.01%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 0.32% for VTES.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +2.74% for VTES. Across the full 4-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +29.87% annualized vs +2.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 2.3% for VTES. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -2.4% for VTES. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VTES charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $5 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 2.74% for VTES.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 7 in VTES, totalling 99.9% and 0.1% 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 7 in VTES, against full books of 107 and 3,326.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VTES 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 VTES?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTES charges 0.05%. VTES is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VTES?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +0.01% for VTES, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQ annualized +29.87% vs +2.49% for VTES. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VTES?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 2.3% for VTES. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs VTES -2.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VTES?
QQQ and VTES have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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 VTES?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VTES yields 2.74%, so VTES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTES better than QQQ?
VTES has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.