QQQ vs VTI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 107 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | +12.08% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | +16.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +20.83% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +11.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $17,537 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 14, 2026 (25.3 years).
QQQ vs VTI 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VTI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +11.69% annualized vs +8.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 15.3% for VTI. 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 -58.8% for QQQ and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
95.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 47.5% of VTI's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
91 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 107 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,059 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (49.9% of the fund), and 5 for QQQ that do not appear in VTI (2.3%).
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 VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 6.40% | 2.04% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 6.29% | 0.98% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 4.79% | 0.97% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 3.65% | 1.02% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 2.90% | 0.46% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.56% | 0.60% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.29% | 3.14% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 2.31% | 0.82% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.08% | 2.37% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.70% | 1.08% |
95.2% of QQQ is already inside VTI.
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 VTI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VTI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +16.31% for VTI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), QQQ annualized +11.69% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VTI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -58.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VTI?
QQQ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 VTI?
95.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 47.5% of VTI's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 91 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VTI?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than QQQ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.