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ETF Comparison

QQQ vs QQQM vs SCHG vs VUG: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A side-by-side comparison of Invesco QQQ Trust, Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF, Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF and Vanguard Growth ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

Invesco
ETFs255
Total AUM$971B

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

Invesco is a major player in the ETF space known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of 71 funds spanning multiple investment themes and strategies. Their portfolio spans income-focused funds, factor-based equity strategies, commodity exposure, digital assets, ESG investing, and the popular Invesco QQQ family tracking the Nasdaq-100, serving both income-seeking and growth-oriented investors. The issuer is particularly recognized for specialized offerings like BulletShares (laddered bond funds), sector rotation strategies, and thematic investing options, making it a comprehensive choice for investors seeking varied exposures beyond traditional index funds.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ and QQQM.

See all Invesco ETFs
Schwab
ETFs34
Total AUM$574B

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

Schwab is known for offering low-cost, broad-based ETFs that serve both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies. Their 33-fund lineup spans multiple asset classes including bonds, equities, international markets, digital assets, and factor-based strategies, with a notable emphasis on dividend-focused funds like SCHD alongside core index options. The issuer emphasizes accessibility for individual investors through competitive expense ratios and a diverse range of fund families designed to support various investment objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SCHG.

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Vanguard
ETFs115
Total AUM$4484B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VUG.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

QQQQQQMSCHGVUG
Full nameInvesco QQQ TrustInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFVanguard Growth ETF
IssuerInvescoInvescoSchwabVanguard
Last Close$712.60 as of July 4, 2026$293.42 as of July 4, 2026$34.12 as of July 4, 2026$85.50 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield0.45%0.48%0.40%0.43%
Distribution Safety Score959610091
Expense ratio0.18%0.15%0.04%0.04%
AUM$481B$96.8B$58.4B$222B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterlyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100 IndexNASDAQ-100 IndexDow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market IndexCRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
ObjectiveTrack the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.Track the NASDAQ-100 Index with a lower expense ratio alternative to QQQ.Capital AppreciationTrack the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index for diversified exposure to U.S. growth equities.
Asset classEquityEquityEquityEquity
Inception date03/10/199910/13/202012/11/200901/26/2004
Beta1.231.181.191.24
Last dividend$0.7941$0.3520$0.0340$0.0923
Ex-dividend date12/21/202606/22/202606/24/202606/26/2026

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

QQQM tops the group on trailing twelve-month total return at 30.85%, with QQQ at 30.76%, SCHG at 18.35% and VUG at 18.59%. Across the 5-year window, QQQM has the strongest compounding at 15.72% a year. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5YSince Oct 2020Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQ16.37%30.76%25.08%15.64%17.39%20.2%0.891.27-22.8%
QQQM16.39%30.85%25.16%15.72%17.46%20.0%0.901.29-22.7%
SCHG5.11%18.35%22.62%13.75%15.63%19.4%0.821.17-23.4%
VUG5.63%18.59%22.52%12.88%14.80%19.6%0.811.16-22.8%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2020” measures every fund from October 13, 2020 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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.

Quick verdict

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust), QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF), SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF), VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) are dividend ETFs that take different approaches.

QQQM offers the highest reported yield at 0.48%, followed by QQQ at 0.45%, VUG at 0.43%, SCHG at 0.40%.

SCHG and VUG tie for the lowest expense ratio at 0.04%, compared to 0.15% for QQQM and 0.18% for QQQ.

QQQ is the largest fund by assets ($481B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment: QQQ generates ~$3.75/month, QQQM generates ~$4.00/month, SCHG generates ~$3.33/month, VUG generates ~$3.58/month at current distribution rates.

QQQ yield0.45%
QQQM yield0.48%
SCHG yield0.40%
VUG yield0.43%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000: QQQ costs ~$180, QQQM costs ~$150, SCHG costs ~$40, VUG costs ~$40 in fees (simplified, not compounded).

QQQ ER0.18%
QQQM ER0.15%
SCHG ER0.04%
VUG ER0.04%

Strategy & risk

QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach; QQQM tracks NASDAQ-100 Index with a growth approach; SCHG tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach; VUG tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach.

QQQ beta1.23
QQQM beta1.18
SCHG beta1.19
VUG beta1.24

Fund details

QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $481B in assets. QQQM is managed by Invesco (launched 10/13/2020) with $96.8B in assets. SCHG is managed by Schwab (launched 12/11/2009) with $58.4B in assets. VUG is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $222B in assets.

QQQ AUM$481B
QQQM AUM$96.8B
SCHG AUM$58.4B
VUG AUM$222B
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Frequently asked questions

Which of QQQ, QQQM, SCHG, and VUG is best for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. QQQM currently offers the highest reported distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility, and funds without an established distribution history have no comparable yield to evaluate. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between QQQ, QQQM, SCHG, and VUG?

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, issued by Invesco. QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF) tracks NASDAQ-100 Index with a growth approach, issued by Invesco. SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index with a capital appreciation approach, issued by Schwab. VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF) tracks CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index with a growth approach, issued by Vanguard.

Can I hold QQQ, QQQM, SCHG, and VUG together?

Yes. Many income investors hold multiple dividend ETFs to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has the lowest fees among QQQ, QQQM, SCHG, and VUG?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18%, QQQM has an expense ratio of 0.15%, SCHG has an expense ratio of 0.04%, VUG has an expense ratio of 0.04%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 generate in each?

$10,000 in QQQ yields ~$3.75/month ($45.00/year). $10,000 in QQQM yields ~$4.00/month ($48.00/year). $10,000 in SCHG yields ~$3.33/month ($40.00/year). $10,000 in VUG yields ~$3.58/month ($43.00/year).

More comparisons to explore

QQQ vs QQQM vs SCHG vs VUG — at a glance

Generated June 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

QQQ, QQQM, SCHG, and VUG are all large-cap growth ETFs tracking different underlying indexes, but they differ meaningfully in composition and cost. QQQ and QQQM both track the Nasdaq-100 (100 largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks), giving them heavy tech and momentum tilt. SCHG and VUG track broader large-cap growth universes using different methodologies—Schwab's Dow Jones index and Vanguard's CRSP index respectively—and distribute far less income. The core split is Nasdaq-heavy (QQQ/QQQM) versus broad large-cap growth (SCHG/VUG).

How they differ

QQQ and QQQM track an identical index but QQQ charges 0.18% while QQQM charges 0.15%—a 3-basis-point annual cost difference that compounds over decades. QQQ is also the established giant with $481B AUM versus QQQM's $96.8B, meaning QQQ enjoys better liquidity and tighter spreads, though both are liquid enough for most investors.

The second dividing line is Nasdaq concentration versus diversification. QQQ's 100-stock Nasdaq-100 universe is heavily tilted toward tech and mega-cap names; SCHG and VUG spread exposure across a much wider large-cap growth basket using different selection methodologies. This shows up in beta: QQQ runs 1.23, QQQM 1.18, SCHG 1.19, and VUG 1.24, but the Nasdaq funds will perform very differently from the broad-growth funds in market rotations away from technology.

The third difference is yield. QQQ and QQQM distribute 0.44% and 0.48% respectively; SCHG yields 0.42%; VUG yields only 0.06%. This reflects the fact that Nasdaq-100 stocks tend to reinvest earnings rather than pay dividends, while the broader large-cap growth indexes capture more mature, dividend-paying names. For income-focused investors, the gap between VUG and the Nasdaq trackers is material.

Who each is best for

QQQ: Fits investors who want maximum Nasdaq-100 exposure with the liquidity and tight spreads that come from $481B in AUM, and are comfortable with concentrated tech and mega-cap risk.

QQQM: Fits investors seeking identical Nasdaq-100 exposure to QQQ but want to save 3 basis points annually on fees; liquidity is solid for typical position sizes, though QQQ remains the deeper market.

SCHG: Fits investors pursuing low-cost large-cap growth exposure with the tightest expense ratio (0.04%) and prefer a broader basket of stocks than the Nasdaq-100 provides.

VUG: Fits investors wanting diversified large-cap growth with the lowest yield and highest turnover drag from capital gains, combined with Vanguard's ownership structure and $222B AUM for reliable liquidity.

Key risks to know

  • Nasdaq concentration risk (QQQ, QQQM): These funds' Nasdaq-100 focus means outsized exposure to tech and mega-cap names. A sector downturn or rotation to value and mid-caps could produce meaningfully different returns than the broad-market equivalents in SCHG and VUG.
  • Tech-earnings dependency (QQQ, QQQM): Nasdaq-100 stocks are heavily weighted toward companies with high valuations and earnings-driven multiples. A shift in interest rates or profit margins affects this basket more acutely than lower-beta large-cap growth funds.
  • Minimal yield and NAV distribution (VUG): VUG's 0.06% yield means almost all returns depend on price appreciation; there is virtually no income cushion during downturns, and capital-gains distributions could be substantial in taxable accounts during bull markets.
  • Index-selection sensitivity (SCHG vs. VUG): SCHG and VUG use different growth-selection methodologies (Dow Jones vs. CRSP), which can cause performance divergence even though both cover the large-cap growth universe. Neither approach is inherently superior; they simply capture different slices of the same asset class.
  • Expense ratio compression: SCHG and VUG both charge 0.04%, which is extremely low and unlikely to be undercut further. QQQ's 0.18% and QQQM's 0.15% are higher in absolute terms, but QQQ's liquidity premium and QQQM's 3-basis-point savings relative to QQQ are real trade-offs rather than flaws.

Bottom line

If you want pure Nasdaq-100 exposure, QQQM edges QQQ on cost while QQQ offers deeper liquidity; the 3-basis-point difference is modest, so either works depending on your trading patterns. If you prefer broader large-cap growth with minimal fees, SCHG and VUG are nearly identical in cost, with SCHG slightly newer and VUG carrying more AUM. The real choice is whether Nasdaq concentration (higher beta, more tech exposure, lower yield) fits your portfolio or whether you want diversified large-cap growth. Past performance does not predict future results.

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

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