QQQ vs VCRM
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VCRM?
Large Cap Growth against Municipal Bond.
VCRM has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | VCRM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.12%Best |
| AUM | $506.1B | $2.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 3.95% |
| Holdings | 321 | 2,397 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | -4.71% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | -3.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 4.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -7.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $14,598Best | $10,059 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Nov 19, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
QQQ vs VCRM 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VCRM Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Core Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (VCRM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while VCRM returned -3.72%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a loss of 4.71% for VCRM.
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 4.9% for VCRM. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -7.9% for VCRM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VCRM charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $12 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 3.95% for VCRM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 330 in VCRM, totalling 99.6% and 12.0% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 330 in VCRM, against full books of 321 and 2,397.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and VCRM 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 VCRM?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VCRM charges 0.12%. VCRM is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VCRM?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs -3.72% for VCRM, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +22.03% vs +0.31% for VCRM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VCRM?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 4.9% for VCRM. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs VCRM -7.9%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VCRM?
QQQ and VCRM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 VCRM?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VCRM yields 3.95%, so VCRM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCRM better than QQQ?
VCRM 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.