Dividend comparison
VTI vs QQQM: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF and Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VTI is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.15% for QQQM. On $10,000 that is $12 a year less in fees.
- Income. VTI pays more income, yielding 1.05% over the last twelve months versus 0.45% for QQQM. That is about $60 more a year on $10,000. Both pay quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, QQQM returned 97.0% versus 72.2% for VTI, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $19,699 in QQQM and $17,219 in VTI.
- Risk. QQQM has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -35.0%, against -25.4% for VTI.
- Diversification. VTI holds 3,598 positions and QQQM holds 103. The ten largest positions make up 34.6% of VTI and 47.2% of QQQM.
- Overlap. At least 45% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 36 shared holdings.
- Dividend growth. QQQM grew its yearly payout 17.8% 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 $108.6 billion for QQQM.
Bottom line: VTI fits better if you care most about lower fees, more income today, smaller drawdowns and broader diversification. QQQM fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth.
| Metric | VTI Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | QQQM Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.05% | 0.45% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $3.95 | $1.32 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.9555 on Sep 30, 2026 | $0.3127 on Sep 25, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 6.4% over 4 yrs | 17.8% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $377.09 | $295.59 |
| Dividend growth streak | 5 years | — |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.23 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -25.4% | -35.0% |
| Market cap | $2.30T | $78.87B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.15% |
| Assets under management | $2.30T | $108.58B |
| Number of holdings | 3598 | 103 |
| Top 10 concentration | 34.6% | 47.2% |
VTI
$8.72/mo
$105 /yr at 1.05% yield
QQQM
$3.71/mo
$45 /yr at 0.45% yield
| Year | VTI | QQQM |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3.7566 | $1.2592 |
| 2024 | $3.6743 | $1.2755 |
| 2023 | $3.4128 | $1.0965 |
| 2022 | $3.1833 | $0.9145 |
| 2021 | $2.9303 | $0.6549 |
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 QQQM 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
Launched in 2020 as an open-end fund, it holds identical constituents at identical weights to its older sibling and charges a lower expense ratio. The gap in fee is small in any one year but compounds across a long holding period, which is the entire reason the fund exists. What it gives up is trading depth: spreads are wider and the options market on it is thin next to QQQ's.
Suits a long-term holder accumulating Nasdaq-100 exposure inside a retirement or taxable account. Not the right choice for active traders or anyone writing options against the position.
Growth-tilted core, concentrated
| Period | VTI | QQQM |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 0.69% | -0.34% |
| 3 months | 3.22% | 3.24% |
| Year to date | 13.43% | 16.87% |
| 1 year | 15.24% | 17.41% |
| 3 years | 87.48% | 105.29% |
| 5 years | 72.19% | 96.99% |
- VTI
- QQQM
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VTI
- QQQM
| Largest shared holdings | VTI weight | QQQM 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. QQQM 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
Is VTI or QQQM better for dividend income?
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How much do VTI and QQQM 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.