Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-10-26 → 2026-10-23): QQQ (Invesco QQQ (Nasdaq-100)) vs VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) — total return with dividends reinvested, both starting at $10,000 on the same date.
On risk-adjusted return, QQQ came out ahead of VOO —
but the gap is only half the story. Drawdown and yield often matter more.
QQQ vs VOO — the numbers
| Metric | QQQ | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| CAGR | 19.0% | 14.5% |
| Volatility | 22.1% | 17.7% |
| Sharpe | 0.90 | 0.86 |
| Sortino | 1.15 | 1.04 |
| Max drawdown | -35.1% | -34.0% |
| Dividend yield | 0.44% | 1.06% |
| $10k → today | $67,545 | $44,253 |
Compared over the exact period both funds existed, so the window is shorter than 10 years when one fund is newer. Past performance doesn't predict the future — try your own dates in the tool.