The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) and the Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. QQQ is a Invesco Large Growth fund and VV is a Vanguard Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between QQQ and VV? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.16 percentage points higher than VV’s (0.2% vs. 0.04%). QQQ also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, QQQ has provided higher returns than VV over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare QQQ vs. VV. We’ll look at performance and industry exposure, as well as at their risk metrics and portfolio growth. Moreover, I’ll also discuss QQQ’s and VV’s holdings, fund composition, and annual returns and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| QQQ | VV | |
| Name | Invesco QQQ Trust | Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Category | Large Growth | Large Blend |
| Issuer | Invesco | Vanguard |
| AUM | 174.51B | 37.65B |
| Avg. Return | 21.27% | 14.75% |
| Div. Yield | 0.49% | 1.26% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.2% | 0.04% |
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 Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) is a Large Blend fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 37.65B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.75% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.26% with an expense ratio of 0.04%.
QQQ’s dividend yield is 0.77% lower than that of VV (0.49% vs. 1.26%). Also, QQQ yielded on average 6.52% more per year over the past decade (21.27% vs. 14.75%). The expense ratio of QQQ is 0.16 percentage points higher than VV’s (0.2% vs. 0.04%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| QQQ | VV | |
| Technology | 45.46% | 25.38% |
| Industrials | 2.61% | 8.39% |
| Energy | 0.0% | 2.62% |
| Communication Services | 19.55% | 11.68% |
| Utilities | 0.89% | 2.35% |
| Healthcare | 7.04% | 13.22% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.68% | 6.06% |
| Real Estate | 0.0% | 2.7% |
| Financial Services | 2.51% | 13.82% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 17.27% | 11.65% |
| Basic Materials | 0.0% | 2.13% |
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 Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VV) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 25.38%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 13.82% and 13.22% respectively. Utilities (2.35%), Energy (2.62%), and Real Estate (2.7%) only make up 7.67% of the fund’s total assets.
VV’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Consumer Cyclical, Communication Services, and Healthcare stocks at 6.06%, 8.39%, 11.65%, 11.68%, and 13.22%.
QQQ is 20.08% more exposed to the Technology sector than VV (45.46% vs 25.38%). QQQ’s exposure to Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical stocks is 7.87% higher and 5.62% higher respectively (19.55% vs. 11.68% and 17.27% vs. 11.65%). In total, Real Estate, Energy, and Utilities also make up 6.78% less of the fund’s holdings compared to VV (0.89% vs. 7.67%).
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%.
| VV Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 5.7% |
| Microsoft Corp | 5.35% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 3.87% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 2.19% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.93% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 1.81% |
| Tesla Inc | 1.37% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B | 1.3% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 1.24% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 1.24% |
VV’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 5.7%, 5.35%, 3.87%, 2.19%, and 1.93%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (1.81%), Tesla Inc (1.37%), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (1.3%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. NVIDIA Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co are also represented in the VV’s holdings at 1.24% and 1.24%.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | QQQ | VV |
| 2020 | 48.6% | 20.99% |
| 2019 | 39.12% | 31.39% |
| 2018 | -0.14% | -4.44% |
| 2017 | 32.7% | 22.03% |
| 2016 | 7.01% | 11.65% |
| 2015 | 9.54% | 1.07% |
| 2014 | 19.12% | 13.39% |
| 2013 | 36.6% | 32.65% |
| 2012 | 18.09% | 16.09% |
| 2011 | 3.44% | 1.58% |
| 2010 | 19.89% | 15.81% |
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 2013 was the strongest year for VV, returning 32.65% on an annual basis. The poorest year for VV in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -4.44%. Most years the Vanguard Large-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares has given investors modest returns, such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012, when gains were 13.39%, 15.81%, and 16.09% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| QQQ | $10,000 | $76,522 | 21.27% |
| VV | $10,000 | $42,970 | 14.75% |
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 VV, the end total would have been $42,970. This equates to a $32,970 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.75%.
QQQ’s CAGR is 6.52 percentage points higher than that of VV and as a result, would have yielded $33,552 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, QQQ outperformed VV by 6.52% annually.
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