AQEC vs SPY
AQE Core ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AQEC or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 36.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AQEC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $618M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 67 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +1.57% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.0%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Arlington Partners, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AQEC vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AQEC vs SPY Performance
AQE Core ETF (AQEC) is an ETF from Arlington Partners, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, AQEC is up 1.57% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQEC charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQEC currently yields 0.91% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.2% of AQEC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 73.8% of SPY's money is in holdings AQEC also owns.
Most of AQEC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
122 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 67 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 374 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AQEC (25.6% of the fund), and 10 for AQEC that do not appear in SPY (4.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AQEC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.84% | 7.71% | 0.13% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.41% | 6.83% | 0.58% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.73% | 5.50% | 0.77% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.99% | 4.08% | 1.09% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 3.26% | 3.33% | 0.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.48% | 2.97% | 0.49% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.19% | 2.67% | 0.48% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.85% | 1.94% | 0.09% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.77% | 1.42% | 0.35% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.36% | 1.51% | 0.15% |
89.2% of AQEC is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AQEC or SPY?
AQEC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AQEC and SPY?
89.2% of AQEC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 73.8% of SPY's is in holdings AQEC also owns. They hold 122 positions in common, counted across the 143 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQEC or SPY?
AQEC yields 0.91% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AQEC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AQEC is less concentrated, with 36.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.