Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-09-14 → 2026-09-11): 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 | 19.9% | 15.1% |
| Volatility | 22.1% | 17.7% |
| Sharpe | 0.93 | 0.89 |
| Sortino | 1.20 | 1.07 |
| Max drawdown | -35.1% | -34.0% |
| Dividend yield | 0.42% | 1.05% |
| $10k → today | $73,602 | $47,143 |
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.