# VTI vs QQQ: Long-term ETF choice

> Why I'd hold Vanguard's VTI for decades over Nasdaq's QQQ.
- Title: VTI vs QQQ: Long-term ETF choice · The Motley Fool | Shortify
- Summary: Why I'd hold Vanguard's VTI for decades over Nasdaq's QQQ. The Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) offers better long-term growth than QQQ for…
- Keywords: vanguard morningstar total stock market, invesco qqq trust, nasdaq-100, s&p 500, etf, long term investing, stock market returns, finance, money, VTI, QQQ, Long-term
- Source: The Motley Fool — https://fool.com/investing/2026/10/29/vti-vs-qqq-etf-buy-and-hold-decades
- Author: Ben Gran
- Published: 2026-10-29T11:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: vanguard morningstar total stock market, invesco qqq trust, nasdaq-100, s&p 500, etf, long term investing, stock market returns, finance, money
## Past performance doesn't guarantee future results
Investing focuses on future returns, not past performance, as the saying goes.

> past performance does not guarantee future results
## QQQ delivered strong returns for 10 years
The Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) tracked the Nasdaq-100 and averaged 20.5% annual returns over the past decade.

> 20.5%
## QQQ outperformed S&P 500 in recent years
QQQ has strongly outperformed the S&P 500 during the past decade of strong market growth.

> strongly outperformed
## Why VTI beats QQQ for long-term growth
Vanguard's research suggests AI's end users, not current tech companies, will drive future market returns.

> if ai truly transforms the economy, the ultimate winners may be the ai's end users that improve productivity without bearing the upfront investment
## VTI holds 3,519 stocks with 9.57% returns
The Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) holds 3,519 stocks and delivered 9.57% average annual returns over 25 years.

> 9.57%
## I'd hold VTI for decades
VTI's diversified approach makes it worth owning even if it doesn't beat QQQ in the future.

> even if vti doesn't beat qqq in the future, this exceptionally well-diversified etf is worth owning
## Key takeaway

The Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) offers better long-term growth than QQQ for investors planning decades ahead.