Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

QQQ vs VOO

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 versus SS S&P 500 INDEX X — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

VOO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but QQQ can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	QQQ	VOO	Winner
Yield	0.41%	1.07%	VOO wins
Dividend safety	7.4/10	6.5/10	QQQ wins
Growth trend	—	—	Tie
Volatility (beta)	1.24	1.00	VOO wins
Scale	$490.1B	$1.7T	VOO wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	1 wins	3 wins	VOO wins

Dimension by dimension

VOO wins on yield (1.07% vs 0.41%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $66 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

VOO's higher yield (1.07%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus QQQ's 0.41% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

QQQ: 0.41%VOO: 1.07%

QQQ wins on safety (7.4/10 vs 6.5/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. QQQ scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

QQQ (7.4/10) scores 0.9 points higher than VOO (6.5/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

QQQ: 7.4/10VOO: 6.5/10

Yield-trend comparison unavailable

One or both tickers are missing 5-year average yield data.

QQQ: —VOO: —

VOO is less volatile (beta 1.00 vs 1.24)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

On $10,000 invested, VOO's lower expense ratio saves roughly $15/year in fees versus QQQ. Over 20 years that compounds to a meaningful drag — expense ratios are one of the few costs investors fully control.

QQQ: 1.24VOO: 1.00

VOO is 3.4× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

QQQ: $490.1BVOO: $1.7T

Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions

Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.

QQQ: Qualified-eligibleVOO: Qualified-eligible

How we compare these

Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.

This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.

Frequently asked

Which is better for income, QQQ or VOO?

VOO wins 3–1 on our six-dimension comparison, but QQQ can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

QQQ vs VOO: which has a higher dividend yield?

QQQ yields 0.41% and VOO yields 1.07%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $66 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is QQQ or VOO a safer dividend in 2026?

QQQ scores 7.4/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. VOO scores 6.5/10 (Solid). QQQ is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, QQQ or VOO?