OriginaveVTI vs QQQ: which ETF won each year?
Yearly returns side by side, one winner per year — dividends included, priced as you'd actually buy them.
VTI
SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trusttracks the S&P 500 Index- VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index- VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFtracks the CRSP US Total Market Index
QQQInvesco QQQ Trusttracks the Nasdaq-100 Index- QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFtracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- VGTVanguard Information Technology ETFtracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index
- ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETFtracks the MSCI ACWI Index
- VTVanguard Total World Stock ETFtracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index
- URTHiShares MSCI World ETFtracks the MSCI World Index
SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index- SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
- VTVVanguard Value ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index
- VUGVanguard Growth ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
- MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETFtracks the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index
- SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFtracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index
- SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETFtracks the S&P 500 Quality Index
QQQ
- SPYSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trusttracks the S&P 500 Index
- VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
- IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETFtracks the S&P 500 Index
- VTIVanguard Total Stock Market ETFtracks the CRSP US Total Market Index
- QQQInvesco QQQ Trusttracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- QQQMInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETFtracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
- VGTVanguard Information Technology ETFtracks the MSCI US IMI Information Technology 25/50 Index
- ACWIiShares MSCI ACWI ETFtracks the MSCI ACWI Index
- VTVanguard Total World Stock ETFtracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index
- URTHiShares MSCI World ETFtracks the MSCI World Index
- SCHGSchwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index
- SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETFtracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index
- VTVVanguard Value ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Value Index
- VUGVanguard Growth ETFtracks the CRSP US Large Cap Growth Index
- MTUMiShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETFtracks the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant Index
- SPMOInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFtracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index
- SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETFtracks the S&P 500 Quality Index
VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market IndexQQQ tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index
What did the last 10 years do to $10,000?
You invest $10,000 at the start of the window and touch nothing — dividends reinvested, the running year not counted.
VTI vs QQQ, year by year
Calendar-year total returns (dividends included) side by side, and who took the crown each year. A dash means the fund did not exist yet.
| Year | VTI | QQQ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | +12.58% | +20.83% | QQQ |
| 2025 | +17.10% | +20.77% | QQQ |
| 2024 | +23.81% | +25.58% | QQQ |
| 2023 | +26.05% | +54.86% | QQQ |
| 2022 | -19.52% | -32.58% | VTI |
| 2021 | +25.68% | +27.42% | QQQ |
| 2020 | +21.08% | +48.41% | QQQ |
| 2019 | +30.67% | +38.96% | QQQ |
| 2018 | -5.23% | -0.13% | QQQ |
| 2017 | +21.21% | +32.66% | QQQ |
| 2016 | +12.82% | +7.10% | VTI |
| 2015 | +0.36% | +9.44% | QQQ |
| 2014 | +12.55% | +19.18% | QQQ |
| 2013 | +33.45% | +36.63% | QQQ |
| 2012 | +16.45% | +18.11% | QQQ |
| 2011 | +0.97% | +3.48% | QQQ |
| 2010 | +17.43% | +20.14% | QQQ |
| 2009 | +28.90% | +54.68% | QQQ |
| 2008 | -36.99% | -41.73% | VTI |
| 2007 | +5.37% | +19.03% | QQQ |
| 2006 | +15.70% | +7.14% | VTI |
| 2005 | +6.30% | +1.57% | VTI |
| 2004 | +12.78% | +10.54% | VTI |
| 2003 | +30.74% | +49.67% | QQQ |
| 2002 | -20.48% | -37.37% | VTI |
| 2001 | -4.40% | -33.34% | VTI |
| 2000 | — | -36.11% | — |
| 1999 | — | +78.95% | — |
VTI vs QQQ in plain words
VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index while QQQ follows the Nasdaq-100 Index, so they own different slices of the market and their years can look very different. VTI charges 0.03% a year in running costs and QQQ charges 0.18% — VTI is the cheaper fund to hold.
Both funds distribute: dividends land in your account as cash instead of being reinvested automatically. Across the 26 calendar years both funds were trading, VTI finished the year ahead 8 times and QQQ 18 times. $10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $37,896 in VTI versus $59,045 in QQQ by the end of 2025, dividends reinvested.
Fund facts: VTI vs QQQ
| Fact | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Fund | Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Invesco QQQ Trust |
| Tracks | CRSP US Total Market Index | Nasdaq-100 Index |
| Yearly cost (TER) | 0.03% | 0.18% |
| Dividends | Distributing — dividends paid out | Distributing — dividends paid out |
| Launched | 24 May 2001 | 10 Mar 1999 |
| $10,000 invested | What $10,000 in VTI became | What $10,000 in QQQ became |
How bumpy the ride was: VTI vs QQQ
These head-to-head figures use only the 6,364 trading days both funds were listed: 15 Jun 2001 to 6 Oct 2026, roughly 25.3 years.
QQQ swung more than VTI: annualised volatility of 19.0% for VTI against 23.4% for QQQ, with VTI moving 1% or more on 27.3% of trading days and QQQ on 36.7%. Both had their worst day on 16 Mar 2020: VTI closed -11.38% and QQQ -11.98%.
QQQ had the deeper drawdown: it fell -56.11% from its peak on 29 Jun 2001 to a low on 9 Oct 2002, then closed back above the old peak on 11 Jan 2007, 51 months after the low; VTI fell -55.45% from its peak on 9 Oct 2007 to a low on 9 Mar 2009, then closed back above the old peak on 13 Mar 2012, 36 months after the low.
Day to day the two usually move together: the correlation of their daily returns is 0.90, and they closed in opposite directions on 14.6% of the 6,363 days measured. The widest single-day gap came on 8 May 2002, when VTI moved +3.71% and QQQ +10.70%.
| Measure | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Annualised volatility | 19.0% | 23.4% |
| Worst day | -11.38% on 16 Mar 2020 | -11.98% on 16 Mar 2020 |
| Best day | +12.83% on 13 Oct 2008 | +12.16% on 13 Oct 2008 |
| Days moving 1% or more | 27.3% of days | 36.7% of days |
| Deepest drawdown | -55.45% | -56.11% |
| Peak to trough | 9 Oct 2007 → 9 Mar 2009 | 29 Jun 2001 → 9 Oct 2002 |
| Back above the old peak | 13 Mar 2012 · 36 months | 11 Jan 2007 · 51 months |
Years VTI and QQQ parted ways
In 15 of the 25 completed calendar years both funds were trading, the two returns ended more than 5 points apart. The widest split was 2001: VTI returned -4.40% and QQQ -33.34%, a gap of 28.9 points. They rose together in 20 years and fell together in 5 years.
| Year | VTI | QQQ | Gap (VTI − QQQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +26.05% | +54.86% | -28.8 pts |
| 2022 | -19.52% | -32.58% | +13.1 pts |
| 2020 | +21.08% | +48.41% | -27.3 pts |
| 2019 | +30.67% | +38.96% | -8.3 pts |
| 2018 | -5.23% | -0.13% | -5.1 pts |
| 2017 | +21.21% | +32.66% | -11.5 pts |
| 2016 | +12.82% | +7.10% | +5.7 pts |
| 2015 | +0.36% | +9.44% | -9.1 pts |
| 2014 | +12.55% | +19.18% | -6.6 pts |
| 2009 | +28.90% | +54.68% | -25.8 pts |
| 2007 | +5.37% | +19.03% | -13.7 pts |
| 2006 | +15.70% | +7.14% | +8.6 pts |
| 2003 | +30.74% | +49.67% | -18.9 pts |
| 2002 | -20.48% | -37.37% | +16.9 pts |
| 2001 | -4.40% | -33.34% | +28.9 pts |
How often VTI beat QQQ over any 12 months
Across the 292 rolling 12-month windows since June 2001, measured month-end to month-end, VTI finished ahead in 29.1% of them (85) and QQQ in 70.9% (207).
$200 a month into each, 2002–2025
Putting $200 into each fund at the start of every month from January 2002 to December 2025 (288 payments, $57,600 in total) would have grown to $301,434 in VTI and $598,625 in QQQ, leaving QQQ $297,190 ahead.
| Outcome | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Paid in | $57,600 | $57,600 |
| Value at the end of 2025 | $301,434 | $598,625 |
| Gain on the money paid in | +$243,834 | +$541,025 |
| Gain in % | +423.32% | +939.28% |
Each payment rides the return of the month it lands in, dividends reinvested. Only calendar years with all twelve months of data for both funds count, so the plan may start later than the shared history.
Frequently asked
Is VTI or QQQ better?
Across the 26 calendar years both funds were trading, VTI finished the year ahead 8 times and QQQ 18 times. $10,000 invested at the start of 2016 was worth $37,896 in VTI versus $59,045 in QQQ by the end of 2025, dividends reinvested. Past returns don't promise future ones — but this is what actually happened.
What is the difference between VTI and QQQ?
VTI tracks the CRSP US Total Market Index while QQQ follows the Nasdaq-100 Index, so they own different slices of the market and their years can look very different. VTI charges 0.03% a year in running costs and QQQ charges 0.18% — VTI is the cheaper fund to hold. Both funds distribute: dividends land in your account as cash instead of being reinvested automatically.
Which is more volatile, VTI or QQQ?
QQQ swung more than VTI: annualised volatility of 19.0% for VTI against 23.4% for QQQ, with VTI moving 1% or more on 27.3% of trading days and QQQ on 36.7%. Both had their worst day on 16 Mar 2020: VTI closed -11.38% and QQQ -11.98%.
Which had the deeper drawdown, VTI or QQQ?
QQQ had the deeper drawdown: it fell -56.11% from its peak on 29 Jun 2001 to a low on 9 Oct 2002, then closed back above the old peak on 11 Jan 2007, 51 months after the low; VTI fell -55.45% from its peak on 9 Oct 2007 to a low on 9 Mar 2009, then closed back above the old peak on 13 Mar 2012, 36 months after the low.
How often did VTI beat QQQ over a 12-month period?
Across the 292 rolling 12-month windows since June 2001, measured month-end to month-end, VTI finished ahead in 29.1% of them (85) and QQQ in 70.9% (207).
What would $10,000 in VTI have become?
$10,000 invested in VTI at the start of 2016 grew to $37,896 by the end of 2025, with dividends reinvested — an average of 14.3% per year.
Source: Yahoo Finance daily adjusted closes for the US primary listings, dividends reinvested. Prices through · refreshed 7 Oct 2026, 08:49 UTC. How every number is calculated.