The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. QQQ is a Invesco Large Growth fund and VGT is a Vanguard Technology fund. So, what’s the difference between QQQ and VGT? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.10 percentage points higher than VGT’s (0.2% vs. 0.1%). QQQ also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, QQQ has provided higher returns than VGT over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare QQQ vs. VGT. We’ll look at holdings and risk metrics, as well as at their portfolio growth and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss QQQ’s and VGT’s performance, fund composition, and industry exposure and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| QQQ | VGT | |
| Name | Invesco QQQ Trust | Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Large Growth | Technology |
| Issuer | Invesco | Vanguard |
| AUM | 174.51B | 54.13B |
| Avg. Return | 21.27% | 20.84% |
| Div. Yield | 0.49% | 0.66% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.2% | 0.1% |
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) is a Large Growth fund that is issued by Invesco. It currently has 174.51B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 21.27% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.49% with an expense ratio of 0.2%.
The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) is a Technology fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 54.13B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 20.84% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.66% with an expense ratio of 0.1%.
QQQ’s dividend yield is 0.17% lower than that of VGT (0.49% vs. 0.66%). Also, QQQ yielded on average 0.43% more per year over the past decade (21.27% vs. 20.84%). The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.10 percentage points higher than VGT’s (0.2% vs. 0.1%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| QQQ | VGT | |
| Technology | 45.46% | 88.89% |
| Industrials | 2.61% | 1.67% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Communication Services | 19.55% | 0.61% |
| Utilities | 0.89% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 7.04% | 0.0% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.68% | 0.0% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Financial Services | 2.51% | 8.83% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 17.27% | 0.0% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 0.0% |
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 45.46%. This is followed by Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical at 19.55% and 17.27% respectively. Real Estate (0.0%), Energy (0.0%), and Utilities (0.89%) only make up 0.89% of the fund’s total assets.
QQQ’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Financial Services, Industrials, Consumer Defensive, Healthcare, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 2.51%, 2.61%, 4.68%, 7.04%, and 17.27%.
The Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares (VGT) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 88.89%. This is followed by Financial Services and Industrials at 8.83% and 1.67% respectively. Consumer Cyclical (0.0%), Real Estate (0.0%), and Consumer Defensive (0.0%) only make up 0.00% of the fund’s total assets.
VGT’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Healthcare, Utilities, Energy, Communication Services, and Industrials stocks at 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.0%, 0.61%, and 1.67%.
QQQ is 43.43% less exposed to the Technology sector than VGT (45.46% vs 88.89%). QQQ’s exposure to Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical stocks is 18.94% higher and 17.27% higher respectively (19.55% vs. 0.61% and 17.27% vs. 0.0%). In total, Real Estate, Energy, and Utilities also make up 0.89% more of the fund’s holdings compared to VGT (0.89% vs. 0.00%).
Holdings
| QQQ Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 11.0% |
| Microsoft Corp | 9.82% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 8.35% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 4.01% |
| Facebook Inc A | 4.01% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.9% |
| Tesla Inc | 3.9% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 3.65% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 3.53% |
| Alphabet Inc A | 3.53% |
QQQ’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Facebook Inc A at 11.0%, 9.82%, 8.35%, 4.01%, and 4.01%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (3.9%), Tesla Inc (3.9%), and NVIDIA Corp (3.65%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Alphabet Inc Class A and Alphabet Inc A are also represented in the QQQ’s holdings at 3.53% and 3.53%.
| VGT Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 19.58% |
| Microsoft Corp | 16.53% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 4.22% |
| Visa Inc Class A | 3.16% |
| PayPal Holdings Inc | 2.76% |
| Mastercard Inc Class A | 2.76% |
| Adobe Inc | 2.39% |
| Intel Corp | 1.94% |
| Salesforce.com Inc | 1.91% |
| Cisco Systems Inc | 1.9% |
VGT’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, NVIDIA Corp, Visa Inc Class A, and PayPal Holdings Inc at 19.58%, 16.53%, 4.22%, 3.16%, and 2.76%.
Mastercard Inc Class A (2.76%), Adobe Inc (2.39%), and Intel Corp (1.94%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Salesforce.com Inc and Cisco Systems Inc are also represented in the VGT’s holdings at 1.91% and 1.9%.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | QQQ | VGT |
| 2020 | 48.6% | 45.94% |
| 2019 | 39.12% | 48.68% |
| 2018 | -0.14% | 2.52% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | 37.07% |
| 2016 | 7.01% | 13.73% |
| 2015 | 9.54% | 5.02% |
| 2014 | 19.12% | 18.01% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | 30.91% |
| 2012 | 18.09% | 14.05% |
| 2011 | 3.44% | 0.52% |
| 2010 | 19.89% | 12.74% |
QQQ had its best year in 2020 with an annual return of 48.6%. QQQ’s worst year over the past decade yielded -0.14% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Invesco QQQ Trust provided moderate returns such as in 2012, 2014, and 2010 where annual returns amounted to 18.09%, 19.12%, and 19.89% respectively.
The year 2019 was the strongest year for VGT, returning 48.68% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VGT in the last ten years was 2011, with a yield of 0.52%. Most years the Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2016, 2012, and 2014, when gains were 13.73%, 14.05%, and 18.01% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| QQQ | $10,000 | $76,522 | 21.27% |
| VGT | $10,000 | $72,718 | 20.84% |
A $10,000 investment in QQQ would have resulted in a final balance of $76,522. This is a profit of $66,522 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.27%.
With a $10,000 investment in VGT, the end total would have been $72,718. This equates to a $62,718 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.84%.
QQQ’s CAGR is 0.43 percentage points higher than that of VGT and as a result, would have yielded $3,804 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, QQQ outperformed VGT by 0.43% annually.
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