VUG vs QQQ Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VUG and QQQ both provide large-cap growth/tech tilted exposure but through different methodologies. VUG is a broad growth factor ETF at ultra-low cost including NYSE and Nasdaq growth companies. QQQ is the Nasdaq-100 index ETF with unmatched liquidity and options market but a higher expense ratio and exchange-based (not growth-factor) methodology.
VUG is the more cost-efficient growth factor ETF for long-term passive investors; QQQ is the superior choice for traders and institutions who need Nasdaq-100 liquidity and options depth.
QQQ holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. QQQ has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+12.27% vs +5.18% for VUG).
- want broad US large-cap growth factor exposure at ultra-low 0.04% cost
- prefer cross-exchange growth coverage including NYSE growth companies QQQ excludes
- are building a growth-tilted passive portfolio at the lowest possible expense ratio
- want more diversification across 200+ growth stocks versus QQQ's 100 Nasdaq companies
- need the most liquid growth/tech proxy ETF for institutional trading and hedging
- use Nasdaq-100 options extensively for income generation or portfolio protection
- specifically want the 100 largest Nasdaq-listed companies as their growth benchmark
- are indifferent to the higher 0.20% expense ratio for the liquidity and options market
| Metric | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 27.3 | 29.2 |
| Latest closei | $86.14 | $691.95 |
| 1M returni | -6.43% | -8.50% |
| 3M returni | -2.82% | -3.43% |
| 6M returni | +0.49% | -0.34% |
| 1Y returni | +5.18% | +12.27% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $10.56K (+5.6%) started 2025-11-04 | $11.28K (+12.8%) started 2025-11-04 |
| 5Y ago | $16.98K (+69.8%) started 2021-11-05 | $18.43K (+84.3%) started 2021-11-05 |
| 10Y ago | $55.52K (+455.2%) started 2016-11-07 | $68.25K (+582.5%) started 2016-11-07 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $380.04B | $463.83B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.41% | 0.45% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 29.48 | 28.50 |
| Betai | 1.25 | 1.26 |
| 52-week change | 5.18% | 12.27% |
| Metric | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +5.18% | +12.27% |
| 6M returni | +0.49% | -0.34% |
| 3M returni | -2.82% | -3.43% |
| 1M returni | -6.43% | -8.50% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.12 | 0.45 |
| Betai | 1.25 | 1.26 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.41% | 0.45% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.57% | +12.34% |
Over the past year, VUG and QQQ have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.94), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +5.18% | +12.27% |
| CAGRi | +5.18% | +12.27% | |
| Volatilityi | 18.14% | 20.20% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.12 | 0.45 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.17 | 0.64 | |
| Max drawdowni | 15.08% | 11.72% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.02% | 8.91% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.55% | 3.13% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 4.71% | 4.10% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.62% | 4.80% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 5.95% | 6.79% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +65.21% | +78.86% |
| CAGRi | +10.57% | +12.34% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.63% | 23.10% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.36 | 0.43 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.51 | 0.61 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.61% | 35.12% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.02% | 8.91% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.20% | 9.24% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 14.57% | 13.61% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.06% | 6.21% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 12.34% | 11.98% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +411.34% | +536.40% |
| CAGRi | +17.74% | +20.35% | |
| Volatilityi | 21.66% | 22.63% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.66 | 0.74 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.92 | 1.04 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.61% | 35.12% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.02% | 8.91% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.63% | 6.25% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.02% | 10.39% | |
| Max daily dropi | 12.62% | 11.98% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 16.93% | 16.20% |
| Category | VUG | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | Invesco QQQ Trust |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.18% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $380.04B | $463.83B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.41% | 0.45% |
- 0.04% expense ratio is 5x cheaper than QQQ's 0.20%
- Broader growth factor coverage including NYSE-listed growth companies QQQ excludes
- Multi-factor growth screen captures companies with diverse financial growth characteristics
- Most liquid large-cap growth-proxy ETF with the deepest options market
- Nasdaq-100 is the primary growth/tech benchmark reference
- Includes 100 companies with high conviction concentration vs VUG's broader 200+ stocks
- Growth factor exposure means significant tech concentration similar to QQQ
- Growth stocks are highly sensitive to interest rate increases which reduce present value of future earnings
- Lower liquidity and options market than QQQ for tactical strategies
- 0.20% expense ratio is 5x higher than VUG's 0.04%
- Nasdaq listing requirement limits inclusion to Nasdaq-traded companies only
- Not a pure growth factor fund — some QQQ components would not qualify as 'growth' by factor screens
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