QQQ vs VTI: Which Should You Buy?
0.03% vs 0.18% fee.
Over the period we can measure, QQQ has returned about 5.9% a year more and overlap about 48% by weight. Pick QQQ for the tighter 102-holding portfolio; pick VTI to own 3,598 instead. VTI is the cheaper of the two at 0.03% against 0.18%.
This is purely for informational purposes, not investment advice. Always consult a professional before making investment decisions.
QQQ wins if...
You want the tighter portfolio: 102 holdings rather than 3,598, tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index.
VTI wins if...
You want maximum diversification: 3,598 holdings covering the broader market, tracking the CRSP US Total Market Index, at a lower 0.03% fee.
QQQ vs VTI, side by side
The numbers that actually differ are highlighted.
| Metric | QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Index tracked | NASDAQ-100 Index | CRSP US Total Market Index |
| Number of holdings | 102 | 3,598 |
| Expense ratio | 0.18% | 0.03% |
| Dividend yield | 0.42% | 1.04% |
| AUM | $475.29B | $2.30T |
| Top 10 concentration | 47.6% | 33.5% |
| 10-yr total return | 20.8% | 14.9% |
| 5-yr total return | 15.2% | 12.3% |
| Beta (vs S&P 500) | 1.23 | 1.02 |
| Max drawdown (10yr) | -35.1% | -35.0% |
| Market-cap coverage | Large cap | Large + mid + small |
| Inception | 1999 | 2001 |
QQQ holds 102 positions tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
How much do QQQ and VTI overlap?
The single most decision-relevant fact, and the one most comparisons skip.
- Shared
- 48.3%
- VTI-only
- 51.8%
~48% identical by weight
91 weighted positions appear in both funds, and by weight about 48% of the two portfolios is the same exposure. Where a stock sits in both, the shared share is whichever weight is smaller. That is the part of a dollar that behaves identically in either fund.
The difference is VTI's remaining 3,496 positions, which QQQ does not hold at all. They are smaller by weight, which is why the two track each other closely and drift apart only at the margins.
Growth of $10,000: QQQ vs VTI
Growth of $10,000
10 years
Which should you choose?
- You want concentrated exposure: 102 holdings, not 3,598
- You want to track the NASDAQ-100 Index
- You want the wider net: 3,598 holdings against 102
- You want to track the CRSP US Total Market Index
- You want the lower fee: 0.03% against 0.18%
- You want the higher yield: 1.04% against 0.42%
Compare and track all ETFs in your sheet
Type =WISE("QQQ","dividend yield","ttm") or =WISEFUNDS("QQQ","expense ratio") in Excel or Google Sheets and the fund's data lands in your sheet, ready to be refreshed when you want.
Get The Add-in - FreeQQQ vs VTI frequently asked questions
QQQ has the stronger record, by about 5.9% a year and they overlap roughly 48% by weight. Compare the fee and the holdings count below and pick the one that matches how broad you want the exposure to be.
QQQ holds 102 positions tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. VTI holds 3,598, a broader slice of the same market.
Yes, by about 48% by weight. 91 weighted positions appear in both funds. Because the largest positions dominate both portfolios, the two behave similarly day to day.
Yes. At about 48% overlap the two hold substantially different positions, so holding both does broaden the exposure.