QQQ vs VUSE
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vident US Equity Strategy ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VUSE?
Large Cap Growth against Mid Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VUSE is less concentrated, with 27.4% 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 | VUSE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $679M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.45% |
| Holdings | 107 | 128 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | +9.43% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | +8.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +15.39% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +12.19% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.2% | 17.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -45.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $17,773 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 27.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vident Financial |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jan 22, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 22, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.7 years).
QQQ vs VUSE 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VUSE Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vident US Equity Strategy ETF (VUSE) is an ETF from Vident Financial. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while VUSE returned +8.28%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 9.43% for VUSE.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +15.39% for VUSE; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +12.19% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.31% annualized vs +9.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.2% compared with 17.2% for VUSE. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -45.5% for VUSE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VUSE charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $50 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.45% for VUSE.
Holdings Overlap
60.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings VUSE also owns. 42.0% of VUSE's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 123 in VUSE, against full books of 107 and 128.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 90 positions for VUSE that do not appear in our book for QQQ (57.4% of the fund), and 64 for QQQ that do not appear in VUSE (37.6%).
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 VUSE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 2.70% | 5.74% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 2.63% | 4.64% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 2.56% | 3.20% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 3.30% | 1.13% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 2.44% | 2.23% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 3.04% | 0.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.57% | 0.59% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 2.66% | 0.12% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.41% | 2.50% | 0.09% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.26% | 2.19% |
60.0% of QQQ is already inside VUSE.
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 VUSE?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VUSE charges 0.50%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VUSE?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +8.28% for VUSE, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +18.31% vs +9.17% for VUSE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VUSE?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.2% annualized versus 17.2% for VUSE. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VUSE -45.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VUSE?
QQQ and VUSE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 VUSE?
60.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings VUSE also owns. 42.0% of VUSE's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 123 in VUSE.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VUSE?
QQQ yields 0.44% while VUSE yields 0.45%, so VUSE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VUSE better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VUSE is less concentrated, with 27.4% 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.