QQQ vs VTIAX
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral
Which is better, QQQ or VTIAX?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTIAX 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 | VTIAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $102.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.47% |
| Holdings | 321 | 8,762 |
| YTD Price Return | +21.93%Best | +10.94% |
| 1Y Price Return | +22.27%Best | +14.27% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +26.84%Best | +17.02% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +15.66%Best | +6.01% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.6% | -31.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,697Best | $13,389 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 29, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VTIAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. QQQ yields 0.42% and VTIAX 2.47% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2021 to Oct 7, 2026 (5 years).
QQQ vs VTIAX 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 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
QQQ vs VTIAX Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral (VTIAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.27% while VTIAX returned +14.27%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.93% versus a gain of 10.94% for VTIAX.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.84% per year against +17.02% for VTIAX; over five years the annualized figures are +15.66% and +6.01% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 15.7% for VTIAX. 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 -35.6% for QQQ and -31.4% for VTIAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VTIAX charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 2.47% for VTIAX.
Structure and taxes
VTIAX is a mutual fund and QQQ is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings VTIAX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTIAX, our book for it covers 91.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and VTIAX share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 227 days apart, QQQ as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTIAX as of Jan 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 8,504 in VTIAX, against full books of 321 and 8,762.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VTIAX 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 VTIAX?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTIAX charges 0.09%. VTIAX is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VTIAX?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.27% vs +14.27% for VTIAX, 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 VTIAX?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 15.7% for VTIAX. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.6% vs VTIAX -31.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VTIAX?
QQQ and VTIAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 VTIAX?
At least 1.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings VTIAX also owns. Our book for VTIAX is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 8,504 in VTIAX.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VTIAX?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VTIAX yields 2.47%, so VTIAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTIAX or QQQ in a taxable account?
QQQ is an ETF and VTIAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VTIAX better than QQQ?
VTIAX 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.