TQQQ vs VTI
ProShares UltraPro QQQ vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, TQQQ or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TQQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.
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 | TQQQ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.78% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $38.3B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 128 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +41.84%Best | +13.48% |
| 1Y Return | +44.13%Best | +16.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +58.05%Best | +22.11% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.00%Best | +11.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 55.0% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -81.7% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,878Best | $17,584 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 9, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2010 to Oct 15, 2026 (16.7 years).
TQQQ vs VTI 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
TQQQ vs VTI Performance
ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TQQQ returned +44.13% while VTI returned +16.55%. Year to date, TQQQ is up 41.84% versus a gain of 13.48% for VTI.
Over three years, TQQQ compounded at +58.05% per year against +22.11% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +18.00% and +11.95% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, TQQQ has the edge at +42.33% annualized vs +12.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TQQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 55.0% compared with 14.8% for VTI. 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 -81.7% for TQQQ and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TQQQ charges 0.78% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $78 vs $3 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TQQQ currently yields 0.62% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 48.1% of VTI's money is in holdings TQQQ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for TQQQ, our book for it covers 50.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
91 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in TQQQ and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 128 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TQQQ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.74% | 6.88% | 4.14% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.37% | 6.30% | 3.93% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.87% | 5.11% | 3.24% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.32% | 3.41% | 2.09% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 0.98% | 2.70% | 1.72% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.82% | 2.38% | 1.56% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.63% | 1.46% | 0.17% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 0.91% | 2.12% | 1.21% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.05% | 1.70% | 0.65% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.39% | 1.04% | 0.35% |
48.1% of VTI is already inside TQQQ.
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, TQQQ or VTI?
TQQQ has an expense ratio of 0.78% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TQQQ or VTI?
Over the past year TQQQ returned +44.13% vs +16.55% for VTI, so TQQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), TQQQ annualized +42.33% vs +12.82% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TQQQ or VTI?
TQQQ has been the more volatile fund at 55.0% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: TQQQ -81.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both TQQQ and VTI?
TQQQ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 TQQQ and VTI?
At least 48.1% of VTI's money is in holdings TQQQ also owns. Our book for TQQQ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 91 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in TQQQ and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, TQQQ or VTI?
TQQQ yields 0.62% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than TQQQ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. TQQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.