VCSH vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VCSH beat QQQ?
No — measured from Nov 23, 2009 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QQQ came out ahead: $187,138 versus $16,066 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 19.2% annual return against 2.9%.
What would $10,000 in VCSH be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) on Nov 23, 2009 would be worth about $16,066 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 60.7% (2.9% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $187,138.
Which was riskier — VCSH or QQQ?
VCSH swung with an annualized volatility of 2.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -12.9%; QQQ ran at 20.6% volatility with a -35.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.31 for VCSH vs 0.84 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 23, 2009 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with VCSH vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.