the gap between themQQQ ahead by $2,304
VTI solid · QQQ dashed · weekly closes, dividends reinvested
VTI wins 3 of 4. Which matters depends on what you need it for.
- Grew more over five yearsVTI +76% · QQQ +99%
QQQ
- Fell less at its worstVTI −25% · QQQ −35%
VTI
- Calmer rideVTI 17% vol · QQQ 21% vol
- Cheaper to holdVTI 0.03% a year · QQQ 0.18% a year
move together · correlation 0.94
Side by side, line by line
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | $375.43 | $721.45 |
| Fund size | $2.34T | $488.98B |
| 1-year return | +15.6% | +21.0% (ahead) |
| 3-year return, a year | +20.9% | +25.6% (ahead) |
| 5-year return, a year | +11.9% | +14.7% (ahead) |
| Volatility, a year | 17% (ahead) | 21% |
| Worst drawdown | −25% (ahead) | −35% |
| Worst week | −9.1% (ahead)Mar 2025 | −9.9%Mar 2025 |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% | 0.42% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% (ahead) | 0.18% |
Do VTI and QQQ move together?
Correlation compares VTI’s and QQQ’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
VTI
−25%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
QQQ
−35%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
How much of it is the same money
VTI vs QQQ: what people ask
Is VTI better than QQQ?
Over the past five years, QQQ delivered the higher return: +14.7% a year against +11.9% for VTI, dividends reinvested. It also fell further at its worst (−35% against −25%), so the extra return came with a rougher ride. Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between VTI and QQQ?
VTI is Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF, a fund with $2.34T in assets. QQQ is Invesco QQQ Trust, a fund with $488.98B in assets. VTI charges 0.03% a year and QQQ 0.18%. Counting only each fund’s ten largest positions, 32% of their money sits in the same companies.
Should I own both VTI and QQQ?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 0.94 over the past five years. Most weeks they go the same way. Owning both spreads company risk, not market risk. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, VTI or QQQ?
QQQ swung more: 21% annual volatility against 17% for VTI. At their worst, VTI fell 25% and QQQ 35% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 1.02 and 1.26.
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or QQQ?
VTI currently yields 1.03%, against 0.42% for QQQ. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.
Which is cheaper to hold, VTI or QQQ?
VTI charges 0.03% a year and QQQ 0.18%. On $10,000, that is $15.00 a year in favor of VTI.
Compare something else
Any two stocks or ETFs. Keep VTI or swap both.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.