QTEC vs VOO
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, QTEC or VOO?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QTEC led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTEC is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | QTEC | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 96 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +43.00%Best | +14.14% |
| 1Y Return | +44.44%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.06%Best | +23.04% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.04%Best | +13.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.5% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,149Best | $18,944 |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2006 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 22, 2026 (16 years).
QTEC vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
QTEC vs VOO Performance
First Trust NASDAQ-100-Technology Sector Index Fund (QTEC) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QTEC returned +44.44% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, QTEC is up 43.00% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, QTEC compounded at +32.06% per year against +23.04% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +15.04% and +13.63% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QTEC has the edge at +18.79% annualized vs +13.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QTEC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -45.5% for QTEC and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QTEC charges 0.55% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QTEC currently yields 0.01% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
78.9% of QTEC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 40.1% of VOO's money is in holdings QTEC also owns.
Most of QTEC is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
37 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in QTEC and 494 in VOO, against full books of 96 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 450 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for QTEC (59.1% of the fund), and 5 for QTEC that do not appear in VOO (9.0%).
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 QTEC | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.32% | 7.55% | 5.23% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.25% | 7.05% | 4.80% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.50% | 5.36% | 2.86% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.84% | 2.86% | 1.02% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.99% | 3.24% | 2.25% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.00% | 1.90% | 0.10% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.19% | 1.44% | 0.75% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.99% | 2.62% | 1.63% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 3.01% | 0.42% | 2.59% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 3.22% | 0.12% | 3.10% |
78.9% of QTEC is already inside VOO.
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, QTEC or VOO?
QTEC has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QTEC or VOO?
Over the past year QTEC returned +44.44% vs +17.31% for VOO, so QTEC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QTEC annualized +18.79% vs +13.49% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QTEC or VOO?
QTEC has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: QTEC -45.5% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both QTEC and VOO?
QTEC and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 QTEC and VOO?
78.9% of QTEC's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 40.1% of VOO's is in holdings QTEC also owns. They hold 37 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in QTEC and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, QTEC or VOO?
QTEC yields 0.01% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than QTEC?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. QTEC led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTEC is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.