Dividend comparison
VTI vs QQQ: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VTI is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.18% for QQQ. On $10,000 that is $15 a year less in fees.
- Income. VTI pays more income, yielding 1.05% over the last twelve months versus 0.53% for QQQ. That is about $52 more a year on $10,000. VTI pays quarterly, QQQ pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, QQQ returned 97.0% versus 72.2% for VTI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,698 in QQQ and $17,219 in VTI.
- Risk. QQQ has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -35.1%, against -25.4% for VTI.
- Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and QQQ holds 102. The ten largest positions make up 34.6% of VTI and 47.2% of QQQ.
- Overlap. At least 45% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 36 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. QQQ grew its yearly payout 13.3% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.4% for VTI.
- Size. VTI is the larger fund with $2.3 trillion in assets, against $487.5 billion for QQQ.
Bottom line: VTI fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. QQQ fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.
| Metric | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 0.53% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.95 | $3.79 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.7514 on Oct 8, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 |
| Next payment | — | $0.7941 on Dec 28, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.4% over 4 yrs | 13.3% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $377.09 | $717.63 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | — |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.23 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -25.4% | -35.1% |
| Market cap | $2.30T | $479.05B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.18% |
| Assets under management | $2.30T | $487.46B |
| Number of holdings | 3598 | 102 |
| Top 10 concentration | 34.6% | 47.2% |
VTI
$8.72/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
QQQ
$4.40/mo
$53 /yr at 0.53% yield
| Year | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.7566 | $2.7949 |
| 2024 | $3.6743 | $3.0623 |
| 2023 | $3.4128 | $2.3200 |
| 2022 | $3.1833 | $2.1351 |
| 2021 | $2.9303 | $1.6968 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What VTI vs QQQ actually do
It tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index at market-cap weights, so the largest 500 names still dominate the return and it behaves much like an S&P 500 fund in practice. The difference is the long tail of mid, small and micro-cap companies that an S&P 500 fund leaves out entirely. Over a full cycle that tail changes the risk profile more than it changes the headline return, and dividend yield sits slightly below a large-cap-only fund because smaller companies pay out less.
Suits an investor who wants one holding to cover US equity without deciding where the size cutoff should sit. Not an income vehicle, and it adds no geographic diversification.
Core holding
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
| Period | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.69% | -0.43% |
| 3 months | 3.22% | 3.10% |
| Year to date | 13.43% | 17.09% |
| 1 year | 15.24% | 17.78% |
| 3 years | 87.48% | 105.61% |
| 5 years | 72.19% | 96.98% |
- VTI
- QQQ
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VTI
- QQQ
| Largest shared holdings | VTI weight | QQQ weight |
|---|---|---|
| NVDANVIDIA Corp | 7.13% | 8.17% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 6.63% | 7.82% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.19% | 6.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.com Inc | 3.30% | 4.42% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.76% | 3.15% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.28% | 2.49% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.18% | 3.28% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.18% | 2.94% |
| MUMicron Technology Inc | 1.64% | 4.41% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.36% | 3.02% |
VTI3598 holdings total
Quick verdict
VTI fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. QQQ fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
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How much do VTI and QQQ overlap?
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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.