QQQ vs VYMI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VYMI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
VYMI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, VYMI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VYMI is less concentrated, with 13.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $437.3B | $22.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 3.66% |
| Holdings | 208 | 1,598 |
| YTD Return | +12.98% | +15.86%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.59% | +21.38%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.05% | +23.56%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74% | +13.44%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -45.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,213 | $18,786Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9% | 13.7%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Feb 25, 2016 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 2, 2016 to Nov 11, 2026 (10.7 years).
QQQ vs VYMI 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VYMI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% while VYMI returned +21.38%. Year to date, QQQ is up 12.98% versus a gain of 15.86% for VYMI.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +23.05% per year against +23.56% for VYMI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.74% and +13.44% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.54% annualized vs +9.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 14.8% for VYMI. 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 -45.2% for VYMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VYMI charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $7 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.43% against 3.66% for VYMI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 1,464 in VYMI, totalling 99.7% and 96.6% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,464 in VYMI, against full books of 208 and 1,598.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 17 positions for VYMI that do not appear in our book for QQQ (3.4% of the fund), and 94 for QQQ that do not appear in VYMI (97.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VYMI 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 VYMI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VYMI charges 0.07%. VYMI is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VYMI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% vs +21.38% for VYMI, so VYMI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +19.54% vs +9.22% for VYMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VYMI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 14.8% for VYMI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VYMI -45.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VYMI?
QQQ and VYMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 VYMI?
QQQ yields 0.43% while VYMI yields 3.66%, so VYMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYMI better than QQQ?
VYMI has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, VYMI over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. VYMI is less concentrated, with 13.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.