QQQ vs VTP

QQQ vs VTP

Which is better, QQQ or VTP?

Large Cap Growth against Inflation Protection.

VTP has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTPHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQVTP
Expense Ratio0.18%0.05%Best
AUM$483.5B$191M
Dividend Yield0.44%2.99%
Holdings10749
YTD Return+17.21%Best-0.49%
1Y Return+22.10%Best-1.00%
3Y Return (annualized)+25.27%-
5Y Return (annualized)+14.60%-
Volatility (annualized)20.5%3.0%Best
Max Drawdown-12.0%-2.6%Best
$10,000 over 1.2 years$12,976Best$10,174
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityFixed Income
StyleLarge Cap GrowthInflation Protection
InceptionMar 10, 1999Jul 7, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.2 years).

QQQ vs VTP 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 1.2 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs VTP Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTP) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while VTP returned -1.00%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 0.49% for VTP.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.5% compared with 3.0% for VTP. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -2.6% for VTP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VTP 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 2.99% for VTP.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in VTP, totalling 99.9% and 0.0% 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 1 in VTP, against full books of 107 and 49.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QQQ and VTP you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QQQVTP

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or VTP?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTP charges 0.05%. VTP is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or VTP?

Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -1.00% for VTP, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +24.25% vs +1.45% for VTP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or VTP?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.5% annualized versus 3.0% for VTP. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs VTP -2.6%.

Should I hold both QQQ and VTP?

QQQ and VTP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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 VTP?

QQQ yields 0.44% while VTP yields 2.99%, so VTP currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTP better than QQQ?

VTP has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.