QQQ vs VUG
Invesco QQQ Trust vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-02
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Invesco that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.18%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.48%. Launched in 1999, the fund has a 27-year track record.
Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.45%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VUG is significantly cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.18% expense ratio, saving you approximately $297 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, QQQ has significantly outperformed with a 23.6% return vs 18.0%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
8 of top 9 holdings overlap (89% overlap in top holdings)
QQQ Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 8.55% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 7.67% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 5.56% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.49% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.79% |
| Walmart Inc.WMT | 3.48% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 3.26% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 3.13% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 2.99% |
VUG Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 12.82% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 12.23% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 9.15% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 4.49% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 4.44% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.41% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 3.95% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.58% |
| Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY | 2.82% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VUG if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose QQQ if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Either works if...
you just need broad us large cap growth exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.