Dividend comparison

QQQ vs VXUS: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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QQQ vs VXUS: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VXUS is cheaper at 0.05% a year versus 0.18% for QQQ. On $10,000 that is $13 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VXUS pays more income, yielding 2.37% over the last twelve months versus 0.53% for QQQ. That is about $184 more a year on $10,000. QQQ pays annual, VXUS pays quarterly.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, QQQ returned 97.0% versus 44.9% for VXUS, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,698 in QQQ and $14,485 in VXUS.
  • Risk. QQQ has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -35.1%, against -28.9% for VXUS.
  • Diversification. VXUS holds 8,602 positions and QQQ holds 102. The ten largest positions make up 47.2% of QQQ and 13.4% of VXUS.
  • Dividend growth. QQQ grew its yearly payout 13.3% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.1% for VXUS.

Bottom line: QQQ fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricQQQ
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)0.53%2.37%
Dividend / share (TTM)$3.79$1.98
Payout frequencyAnnualQuarterly
Last dividend$0.7514 on Oct 8, 2026$0.1562 on Sep 22, 2026
Ex-dividend dateDec 21, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Next payment$0.7941 on Dec 28, 2026—
Dividend growth (CAGR)13.3% over 4 yrs5.1% over 4 yrs
Price$717.63$83.74
Dividend growth streak—1 year
Beta1.230.92
Max drawdown (5Y)-35.1%-28.9%
Market cap$479.05B$667.22B
ExchangeNASDAQNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.18%0.05%
Assets under management$487.46B$649.30B
Number of holdings1028602
Top 10 concentration47.2%13.4%
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

QQQ

$4.40/mo

$53 /yr at 0.53% yield

VXUS

$19.75/mo

$237 /yr at 2.37% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. QQQ pays annual; VXUS pays quarterly.
YearQQQVXUS
2025$2.7949$2.3988
2024$3.0623$1.9842
2023$2.3200$1.8808
2022$2.1351$1.5990
2021$1.6968$1.9678
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.

Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.

What QQQ vs VXUS actually do

QQQ
Invesco's fund tracking the Nasdaq-100, the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange.

The index is modified market-cap weighted and excludes financials by rule, which is why it lands so heavily in technology, communication services and consumer discretionary names. In December 2025 the fund converted from a unit investment trust to a conventional open-end fund and cut its fee, so it can now reinvest income and lend securities like its peers. It remains the most liquid Nasdaq-100 vehicle by a wide margin and the reference asset for a large share of the options-income products in this category.

Suits investors who want concentrated large-cap growth exposure and anyone who needs deep options liquidity. Dividends are incidental, so it does not answer an income mandate on its own.

Growth-tilted core, concentrated

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $19,698 in QQQ and $14,485 in VXUS.
PeriodQQQVXUS
1 month-0.43%-2.49%
3 months3.10%0.44%
Year to date17.09%11.00%
1 year17.78%11.76%
3 years105.61%72.73%
5 years96.98%44.85%
  • QQQ
  • VXUS
61139216202120222023202420252026197145

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • QQQ
  • VXUS
0%15%29%44%59%Technology58.8%20.9%Financial Services0.2%22.2%Industrials5.5%14.3%Consumer Cyclical10.2%7.1%Communication Services12.1%3.9%Healthcare4.4%6.6%Consumer Defensive6.1%4.6%Basic Materials1.0%7.3%Energy0.5%4.5%Cash & Others0.1%3.8%Other1.2%4.9%
QQQ vs VXUS holdings overlap
At least 0% overlap by weight, with 0 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

QQQ102 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA Corp8.17%
AAPLApple Inc7.82%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp6.19%
AMZNAmazon.com Inc4.42%
MUMicron Technology Inc4.41%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc3.79%
METAMeta Platforms Inc3.28%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc3.15%
TSLATesla Inc3.02%
GOOGAlphabet Inc2.94%

VXUS8602 holdings total

NameWeight
2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd4.24%
005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd2.02%
000660.KSSK hynix Inc1.65%
ASML.ASASML Holding NV1.54%
0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd0.76%
HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC0.76%
ROP.SWRoche Holding AG0.65%
SHEL.LShell PLC0.62%
RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada0.61%
NOVN.SWNovartis AG0.59%

Quick verdict

QQQ fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is QQQ or VXUS better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. QQQ currently yields 0.53% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VXUS yields 2.37%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between QQQ and VXUS?
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, QQQ or VXUS?
VXUS has the lower expense ratio. QQQ charges 0.18% a year and VXUS charges 0.05%, a difference of $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, QQQ or VXUS?
Over the last 5 years, QQQ has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: QQQ returned 97.0% and VXUS returned 44.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, QQQ or VXUS?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, QQQ has been riskier: QQQ fell as much as 35.1% and VXUS as much as 28.9%. Their betas are 1.23 and 0.92.
How often do QQQ and VXUS pay dividends?
QQQ pays annual and VXUS pays quarterly.
How much income does $10,000 in QQQ vs VXUS generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $4.40 per month ($53 annually). The same amount in VXUS would produce about $19.75 per month ($237 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both QQQ and VXUS?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare QQQ vs VXUS with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how QQQ and VXUS fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.