VNQ vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
Vanguard Real Estate ETF against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 29, 2004 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VNQ beat QQQ?
No — measured from Sep 29, 2004 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QQQ came out ahead: $242,564 versus $50,608 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.8% annual return against 7.7%.
What would $10,000 in VNQ be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) on Sep 29, 2004 would be worth about $50,608 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 406.1% (7.7% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $242,564.
Which was riskier — VNQ or QQQ?
VNQ swung with an annualized volatility of 28.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -73.1%; QQQ ran at 21.6% volatility with a -53.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.20 for VNQ vs 0.64 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 29, 2004 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 VNQ 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.