ESIX vs QQQ
State Street SPDR S&P SmallCap 600 ESG ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
Which is better, ESIX or QQQ?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
ESIX has a lower expense ratio. ESIX led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. ESIX is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | ESIX | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12%Best | 0.18% |
| AUM | $8M | $498.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.44% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 435 | 321 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6%Best | 20.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.1%Best | -32.4% |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $12,314 | $18,735Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.3%Best | 47.2% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2022 | Mar 10, 1999 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 143 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. ESIX has data through May 12, 2026 and QQQ through Oct 2, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2022 to May 12, 2026 (4.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 20.6% for ESIX. 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 -28.1% for ESIX and -32.4% for QQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESIX charges 0.12% per year while QQQ charges 0.18%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $18 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESIX currently yields 1.44% against 0.42% for QQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 380 holdings in ESIX and 102 in QQQ, totalling 99.3% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 228 days apart, ESIX as of Jan 30, 2026 and QQQ as of Sep 15, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 380 positions we hold weights for in ESIX and 102 in QQQ, against full books of 435 and 321.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 96 positions for QQQ that do not appear in our book for ESIX (97.8% of the fund), and 370 for ESIX that do not appear in QQQ (96.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ESIX and QQQ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ESIX or QQQ?
ESIX has an expense ratio of 0.12% while QQQ charges 0.18%. ESIX is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, ESIX or QQQ?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 20.6% for ESIX. Worst drawdown: ESIX -28.1% vs QQQ -32.4%.
Should I hold both ESIX and QQQ?
ESIX and QQQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESIX or QQQ?
ESIX yields 1.44% while QQQ yields 0.42%, so ESIX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is QQQ better than ESIX?
ESIX has a lower expense ratio. ESIX led over 1Y, QQQ over the full window. ESIX is less concentrated, with 8.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.