ETF Comparison

MGK vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 18, 2026

Best for

MGKInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings.

MGK has lagged QQQ over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.14% total return against 22.87%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.80% a year, against 18.94% for MGK. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Dec 2007	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
MGK	10.82%	15.14%	24.79%	13.68%	18.94%	13.82%	20.2%	0.88	1.27	-23.4%
QQQ	17.95%	22.87%	25.51%	14.73%	20.80%	16.01%	20.4%	0.90	1.29	-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 18, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Dec 2007” measures every fund from December 21, 2007 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	MGK	QQQ
Full name	Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF	Invesco QQQ Trust
Issuer	Vanguard	Invesco
Underlying index	CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index	Nasdaq-100 Index
Last Close	$90.89 as of September 18, 2026	$721.45 as of September 18, 2026
Distribution rate	0.37%	0.45%
Distribution Safety Score™	94	97
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.35%	0.44%
Expense ratio	0.05%	0.18%
AUM	$33.3B	$475B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	12/17/2007	03/10/1999
Beta	1.28	1.26
Last dividend	$0.084	$0.8135
Ex-dividend date	06/26/2026	06/22/2026

Bottom lineChoose MGK if you want broad equity exposure. Choose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.

Model this comparison:

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

Vanguard

ETFs116

Total AUM$4663B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on MGK.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Invesco

ETFs246

Total AUM$980B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Quick verdict

MGK (Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQ offers the higher yield at 0.45% vs 0.37% for MGK. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

MGK is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.05% compared to 0.18%.

They have different reference exposures: MGK is linked to CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index while QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($475B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Still deciding? Track MGK & QQQ for free

Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.

Add to my watchlist See what a free account includes

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, MGK would generate roughly $3.08/month, while QQQ would produce $3.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

MGK yield0.37%

QQQ yield0.45%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, MGK would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $130.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

MGK ER0.05%

QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

MGK tracks CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index with an index approach, while QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. Beta is 1.28 for MGK and 1.26 for QQQ — effectively similar market sensitivity.

MGK beta1.28

QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

MGK is managed by Vanguard (launched 12/17/2007) with $33.3B in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $475B in assets.

MGK AUM$33.3B

QQQ AUM$475B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for MGK and QQQ?

MGK currently distributes 0.37% and QQQ 0.45%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is MGK or QQQ better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. QQQ currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between MGK and QQQ?

MGK (Vanguard Mega Cap Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Mega Cap Growth Index with an index approach, while QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach. They are issued by Vanguard and Invesco respectively.

Can I hold both MGK and QQQ?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is MGK or QQQ safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — QQQ scores 97, MGK scores 94, so QQQ's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, MGK or QQQ?

MGK has an expense ratio of 0.05% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in MGK vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in MGK would generate roughly $3.08 per month ($37.00 annually). The same in QQQ would produce about $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, MGK or QQQ?

More comparisons to explore

People also compare MGK with

People also compare QQQ with

Popular comparisons

MGK vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated September 19, 2026.

Overview

MGK and QQQ are both large-cap growth ETFs that track different mega-cap equity indexes, but their compositions and volatility profiles differ meaningfully. The key distinction: QQQ's $475B in assets dwarfs MGK's $33.3B, and QQQ's tech-heavy tilt makes it materially more concentrated than MGK's broader mega-cap approach.

How they differ

The biggest difference is sector composition: QQQ's mandate to exclude financials and concentrate in Nasdaq-listed stocks means it skews tech-heavy, while MGK captures growth across the full market, including financial mega-caps. On the yield front, QQQ distributes at 0.45% versus MGK's 0.37%, a small gap that reflects QQQ's modest tech dividend yield advantage; both distribute quarterly. Expense-wise, MGK is leaner at 0.05%, while QQQ costs 0.18%, a 13-basis-point spread that compounds over decades. Beta is nearly identical (MGK 1.28, QQQ 1.26), suggesting similar systematic volatility to the broad market despite their different compositions.

Who each is best for

MGK: Fits investors seeking broad mega-cap growth exposure with minimal expense drag and lower concentration risk across sectors. The lower fee and more balanced sector weighting appeal to buy-and-hold growth allocators indifferent to tech's dominance.

QQQ: Fits investors comfortable with or actively seeking technology and consumer-discretionary tilt, and who value exceptional trading liquidity and a longer track record of tracking the Nasdaq-100 benchmark precisely. Also suits investors who view the expense ratio as trivial relative to the index's performance advantage.

Key risks to know

Sector concentration: QQQ's tech-heavy Nasdaq-100 composition means a downturn in software, semiconductors, or mega-cap consumer names disproportionately impacts the fund; MGK's broader sector exposure provides some natural hedge.

Valuation sensitivity: Both funds hold mega-cap growth stocks trading at elevated price-to-earnings multiples; rapid interest-rate rises or earnings disappointments in mega-cap tech pose asymmetric downside risk to both.

Growth-only tilt: Neither fund includes value or defensive sectors, so extended periods favoring cyclicals, financials, or dividend payers could see both underperform a total-market benchmark.

Tech-specific regulatory risk (QQQ): QQQ's concentration in mega-cap tech exposes it to antitrust scrutiny, data-privacy legislation, and AI regulation risk that affects a larger slice of the portfolio than it would in MGK. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener