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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Invesco QQQ Trust and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 19, 2026

Best for

  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • VTIInvestors who want higher current income (1.10% vs 0.45% for QQQ).

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

QQQ has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.68% total return against 21.43%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.68% a year, against 14.80% for VTI. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% against 20.5% for QQQ. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince May 2001Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQ17.07%24.68%26.08%15.29%20.68%12.38%20.5%0.921.32-22.8%
VTI13.67%21.43%21.93%12.49%14.80%9.68%15.5%1.001.44-19.3%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 19, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2001” measures every fund from May 31, 2001 — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricQQQVTI
Full nameInvesco QQQ TrustVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerInvescoVanguard
Last Close$717.51 as of August 19, 2026$379.04 as of August 19, 2026
Distribution yield0.45%1.10%
Distribution Safety Score™ 97100
Expense ratio0.18%0.03%
AUM$496B$696B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100 IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
ObjectiveTrack the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/10/199905/24/2001
Beta1.261.0379
Last dividend$0.8135$1.0437
Ex-dividend date06/22/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineChoose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose VTI if you want higher current income (1.10% vs 0.45% for QQQ).

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Income calculator

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

Invesco
ETFs247
Total AUM$1008B

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
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4703B

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 VTI.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) and VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.10% vs 0.45% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VTI is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.18%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($696B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $3.75/month, while VTI would produce $9.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

QQQ yield0.45%
VTI yield1.10%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.42

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQ would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). The $150.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQ ER0.18%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. Beta is 1.26 for QQQ and 1.0379 for VTI, making VTI the less volatile of the two by this measure.

QQQ beta1.26
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $496B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $696B in assets.

QQQ AUM$496B
VTI AUM$696B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for QQQ and VTI?

QQQ currently distributes 0.45% and VTI 1.10%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is QQQ or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTI 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 QQQ and VTI?

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. They are issued by Invesco and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both QQQ and VTI?

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 QQQ or VTI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VTI scores 100, QQQ scores 97, so VTI's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. VTI has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.04 vs 1.26 for QQQ). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, QQQ or VTI?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTI charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $3.75 per month ($45.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $9.17 per month ($110.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQ or VTI?

QQQ has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.68% total return against 21.43%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.68% a year, against 14.80% for VTI. VTI has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.5% against 20.5% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QQQ vs VTI — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

QQQ and VTI are broad equity index ETFs that cover vastly different slices of the U.S. stock market. QQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100, a large-cap growth index of 100 technology-heavy and non-financial stocks, while VTI targets the entire U.S. equity market through the CRSP index, including large, mid, and small-cap companies across all sectors. The key distinction is scope: QQQ is a concentrated play on growth leaders, whereas VTI is a market-cap-weighted proxy for the entire investable U.S. stock universe.

How they differ

The biggest difference is breadth: QQQ holds 100 stocks and skews heavily toward technology and growth names, while VTI owns thousands of securities spanning the full market cap and sector spectrum. This drives their second major difference—beta. QQQ's beta of 1.26 signals it amplifies broad market moves, while VTI's beta of 1.0379 closely mirrors the overall market, reflecting its diversified construction. Distribution yield also diverges sharply: VTI yields 1.09%, more than double QQQ's 0.45%, a gap that reflects the exposure mix—growth stocks typically pay less dividend yield than value stocks and smaller-cap equities. Finally, expense ratios sit at opposite ends of the spectrum: VTI's 0.03% is among the cheapest in the industry, while QQQ's 0.18% remains modest but six times higher.

Who each is best for

  • QQQ: Fits investors with a longer time horizon and higher risk tolerance who want concentrated exposure to large-cap growth companies and are comfortable with volatility that exceeds the overall market.
  • VTI: Fits investors seeking broad diversification across the entire U.S. equity market with minimal cost, regardless of market cycle or sector preference.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration and sector tilt risk (QQQ): With only 100 holdings and heavy weighting toward technology, QQQ's performance is substantially dependent on the earnings and valuation trends of a narrow sector. Prolonged technology underperformance or a rotation away from growth significantly impacts the fund.
  • Beta amplification (QQQ): A beta of 1.26 means QQQ is structurally more volatile than the broad market; in a sharp downturn, it will decline more sharply than the market average.
  • Overlap and exposure drift: Both funds hold many of the same large-cap names, particularly in technology. Comparing their actual holdings overlap is worth verifying if you're considering both.
  • Small-cap and mid-cap underweight (QQQ): By excluding smaller and mid-cap stocks, QQQ misses potential returns from those segments if they outpace large-cap growth.
  • Low income yield (QQQ): At 0.45% distribution rate, QQQ generates minimal current income, making it ill-suited for income-focused strategies.

Bottom line

If you want exposure to the full U.S. market at minimal cost with predictable beta around 1.0, VTI delivers on that premise. If you're seeking concentrated upside from growth leaders and can stomach higher volatility, QQQ's beta and sector tilt offer that trade. 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.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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