QQQ vs VEGA
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs AdvisorShares STAR Global Buy-Write ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VEGA?
Large Cap Growth against Multi Alternative.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 100.0%.
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 | VEGA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 1.25% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $94M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 1.26% |
| Holdings | 321 | 28 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +6.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +9.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +13.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +6.43% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 9.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -28.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $13,656 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7%Best | 100.0% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Advisor Shares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 17, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 19, 2012 to Oct 14, 2026 (14.1 years).
QQQ vs VEGA 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 14.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VEGA Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and AdvisorShares STAR Global Buy-Write ETF (VEGA) is an ETF from Advisor Shares. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while VEGA returned +9.22%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 6.51% for VEGA.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +13.93% for VEGA; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +6.43% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.36% annualized vs +5.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 9.8% for VEGA. 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 -28.4% for VEGA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VEGA charges 1.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $125 annually, a gap of $107 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 1.26% for VEGA.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 10 in VEGA, totalling 99.6% and 100.0% 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 10 in VEGA, against full books of 321 and 28.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for VEGA that do not appear in our book for QQQ (100.0% of the fund), and 93 for QQQ that do not appear in VEGA (96.3%).
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 VEGA 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 VEGA?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VEGA charges 1.25%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $107 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VEGA?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +9.22% for VEGA, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), QQQ annualized +18.36% vs +5.98% for VEGA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VEGA?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 9.8% for VEGA. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VEGA -28.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VEGA?
QQQ and VEGA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 VEGA?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VEGA yields 1.26%, so VEGA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VEGA better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 100.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.