QQQ vs VOOG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or VOOG?
Nearly the same fund. VOOG costs less.
VOOG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VOOG over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.4%.
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 | VOOG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $506.1B | $27.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.45% |
| Holdings | 321 | 151 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +15.34% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +19.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | +27.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +14.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -32.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $19,296 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7%Best | 59.4% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 14, 2026 (16.1 years).
QQQ vs VOOG 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs VOOG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while VOOG returned +19.01%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 15.34% for VOOG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +27.04% for VOOG; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +14.05% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.91% annualized vs +15.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 15.4% for VOOG. 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 -32.7% for VOOG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while VOOG 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 0.42% against 0.45% for VOOG.
Holdings Overlap
71.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings VOOG also owns. 72.5% of VOOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of VOOG is already inside QQQ. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
46 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 149 in VOOG, against full books of 321 and 151.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 101 positions for VOOG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (27.3% of the fund), and 47 for QQQ that do not appear in VOOG (24.5%).
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 VOOG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.33% | 14.85% | 6.52% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 10.47% | 4.71% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.35% | 6.46% | 0.89% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc-cl A | 3.05% | 5.53% | 2.48% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.02% | 3.00% | 2.02% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.07% | 3.74% | 0.33% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.53% | 4.87% | 2.34% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc.- Cl C | 2.85% | 4.40% | 1.55% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 3.26% | 3.49% | 0.23% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 4.17% | 2.13% | 2.04% |
72.5% of VOOG is already inside QQQ.
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 VOOG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VOOG charges 0.07%. VOOG is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or VOOG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +19.01% for VOOG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), QQQ annualized +18.91% vs +15.72% for VOOG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VOOG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 15.4% for VOOG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs VOOG -32.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and VOOG?
QQQ and VOOG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and VOOG?
72.5% of VOOG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 72.5% of VOOG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 46 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 149 in VOOG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or VOOG?
QQQ yields 0.42% while VOOG yields 0.45%, so VOOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOOG better than QQQ?
VOOG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VOOG over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.