QDF vs VTV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, VTV yields more: 1.83% (dividend yield) against 1.53% for QDF. VTV is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 0.39%. Over the same 13 years (Dec 2012 to Oct 2026), VTV returned 13.0% a year with distributions reinvested, and QDF 12.6%.
| Compared | QDF | VTV |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 1.53% | 1.83% |
| Expense ratio | 0.39% | 0.03% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +14.5% | +25.3% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +20.7% | +22.0% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +11.4% | +12.4% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +12.1% | +13.0% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2012 | -25.2% | -25.0% |
| Share price since Dec 2012 | +262% | +288% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | Northern Trust | Vanguard |
| Assets | $2.2B | $263.7B |
| Started | 2012 | 2004 |
| Type | Large Value | Large Value |
Higher yield
VTV
1.83%
Lower cost
VTV
0.03%
Better total return
VTV
13.0%/yr
Smaller worst drop
VTV
-25.0%
Key facts: QDF vs VTV
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, QDF yields 1.53% (dividend yield) and VTV yields 1.83% (dividend yield).
- QDF's expense ratio is 0.39% and VTV's is 0.03%: $39 vs $3 a year on $10,000.
- From Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in QDF grew to $51,697 (12.6% a year) and $10,000 in VTV to $54,563 (13.0% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -25.2% for QDF and -25.0% for VTV.
- 2 of QDF's top ten holdings are also in VTV's top ten, an overlap of at least 5% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "QDF vs VTV: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/qdf-vs-vtv
$10,000 in each, Dec 2012 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
QDF became
$51,697
12.6% a year
VTV became
$54,563
13.0% a year
Year by year
| Year | QDF | VTV |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +16.6% | +15.3% |
| 2024 | +16.9% | +15.9% |
| 2023 | +19.7% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | −12.1% | −2.1% |
| 2021 | +26.7% | +26.5% |
| 2020 | +4.9% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | +25.7% | +25.7% |
| 2018 | −8.0% | −5.5% |
| 2017 | +17.4% | +17.1% |
| 2016 | +17.0% | +17.1% |
| 2015 | −0.9% | −1.0% |
| 2014 | +11.8% | +13.2% |
| 2013 | +36.3% | +33.1% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
2 of the top ten overlap, at least 5% of each fund.
QDF
- AAPL Apple Inc9.8%
- NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.1%
- MSFT Microsoft Corp4.6%
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson3.0%
- JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co2.5%
- AVGO Broadcom Inc2.5%
- GE GE Aerospace2.2%
- LRCX Lam Research Corp2.1%
- PM Philip Morris International Inc2.1%
- GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A1.9%
VTV
- MU Micron Technology Inc4.6%
- JPM JPMorgan Chase & Co3.3%
- BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B2.9%
- XOM ExxonMobil Holdings Corp2.6%
- JNJ Johnson & Johnson2.4%
- ABBV AbbVie Inc1.8%
- WMT Walmart Inc1.7%
- CVX Chevron Corp1.5%
- CSCO Cisco Systems Inc1.4%
- CAT Caterpillar Inc1.4%
QDF vs VTV: questions
Is QDF or VTV better?
It depends on the job. VTV pays more today (1.83% vs 1.53%), VTV costs less, and VTV has the better total return over Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, with VTV holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, QDF or VTV?
VTV, at 1.83% against 1.53% for QDF as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $183 vs $153 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
VTV. From Dec 2012 to Oct 2026, it returned 13.0% a year with distributions reinvested, against 12.6% for QDF. $10,000 became $54,563 vs $51,697.
Which is cheaper, QDF or VTV?
VTV, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 0.39%.
Do QDF and VTV hold the same things?
Partly. 2 of their top ten holdings match (JPM, JNJ), at least 5% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. VTV leads on 8 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.