VTI vs QQQ: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETFInvesco QQQ Trust ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
VTI vs QQQ at a glance
This page compares Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) with Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) using prices and distributions through September 25, 2026. The numbers update automatically after each trading session.
With dividends reinvested, QQQ has led over the last 12 months at +26.02% versus +18.17% for VTI. VTI currently yields 1.03% (trailing 12-month) against 0.42% for QQQ. Across five years the total-return gap is +105.44% for QQQ vs +76.86% for VTI.
The higher-yielding fund (VTI) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.
| Metric | VTI | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $379.77 | $744.50 |
| Dividend yield | 1.03% (TTM) | 0.42% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | — | 0.20% |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $3.90 (4 payments) | $3.09 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Invesco |
| Inception | — | Mar 11, 1999 |
Performance: VTI vs QQQ
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| VTI | QQQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 2026 | $1.04 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.751 |
| Mar 27, 2026 | $0.998 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.813 |
| Dec 22, 2025 | $0.951 | Mar 23, 2026 | $0.733 |
| Sep 29, 2025 | $0.907 | Dec 22, 2025 | $0.794 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | $0.913 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.694 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | $0.985 | Jun 23, 2025 | $0.591 |
| Dec 23, 2024 | $0.941 | Mar 24, 2025 | $0.716 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | $0.871 | Dec 23, 2024 | $0.835 |
| Jun 28, 2024 | $0.952 | Sep 23, 2024 | $0.677 |
| Mar 22, 2024 | $0.911 | Jun 24, 2024 | $0.762 |
| Dec 21, 2023 | $1.00 | Mar 18, 2024 | $0.573 |
| Sep 21, 2023 | $0.798 | Dec 27, 2023 | $0.216 |
VTI vs QQQ: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or QQQ?
As of September 25, 2026, VTI yields 1.03% (trailing 12-month) and QQQ yields 0.42% (trailing 12-month), so VTI currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, VTI or QQQ?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, VTI returned +18.17% and QQQ returned +26.02%. Over five years, VTI returned +76.86% and QQQ returned +105.44%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in VTI vs QQQ be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,817 in VTI and $12,602 in QQQ.
How often do VTI and QQQ pay dividends?
VTI pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and QQQ pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is VTI or QQQ the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
Related comparisons
More side-by-side comparisons with VTI and QQQ.
Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.