AQLT vs SPY
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AQLT or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% 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 | AQLT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 521 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.66%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,624 | $12,718Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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 covers the 1.7 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, AQLT is up 10.62% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 12.7% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -16.8% for AQLT and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
66.5% of AQLT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 52.1% of SPY's money is in holdings AQLT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
126 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 521 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 371 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AQLT (47.5% of the fund), and 16 for AQLT that do not appear in SPY (1.1%).
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 AQLT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.26% | 7.71% | 3.45% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.02% | 6.83% | 1.81% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.45% | 5.50% | 1.05% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.37% | 2.97% | 1.40% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.54% | 3.33% | 0.79% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.01% | 2.67% | 0.66% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.00% | 1.33% | 1.67% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.61% | 1.94% | 0.33% |
| VVisa Inc | 2.17% | 0.92% | 1.25% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.82% | 0.92% | 0.90% |
66.5% of AQLT 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AQLT or SPY?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or SPY?
Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% vs +17.48% for SPY, so AQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +14.69% vs +15.19% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or SPY?
AQLT has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 12.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both AQLT and SPY?
AQLT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AQLT and SPY?
66.5% of AQLT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 52.1% of SPY's is in holdings AQLT also owns. They hold 126 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or SPY?
AQLT yields 0.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AQLT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. AQLT is less concentrated, with 35.9% 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.