HQDG vs SPY
Raub Brock Dividend Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HQDG or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%.
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 | HQDG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $74M | $777.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 49 | 1,011 |
| YTD Return | +4.04% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +12.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.45% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.87% |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.9% | 38.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Raub Brock Capital Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 3, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
HQDG 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.
HQDG vs SPY Performance
Raub Brock Dividend Growth ETF (HQDG) is an ETF from Raub Brock Capital Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, HQDG is up 4.04% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HQDG charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HQDG currently yields 0.00% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.6% of HQDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 14.3% of SPY's money is in holdings HQDG also owns.
Most of HQDG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
21 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in HQDG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 1,011.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 478 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HQDG (85.4% of the fund), and 1 for HQDG that do not appear in SPY (0.1%).
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 HQDG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.81% | 5.96% | 1.15% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.37% | 2.48% | 1.89% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 4.69% | 1.45% | 3.24% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 4.85% | 0.73% | 4.12% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 4.80% | 0.75% | 4.05% |
| CASYCasey's General Stores Inc | 5.07% | 0.04% | 5.03% |
| TJXTjx Cos., Inc. | 4.87% | 0.24% | 4.63% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 4.91% | 0.17% | 4.74% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 4.65% | 0.39% | 4.26% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 4.52% | 0.31% | 4.21% |
95.6% of HQDG 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, HQDG or SPY?
HQDG has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between HQDG and SPY?
95.6% of HQDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 14.3% of SPY's is in holdings HQDG also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in HQDG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, HQDG or SPY?
HQDG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HQDG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.