IQQQ vs SPY
Proshares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IQQQ or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IQQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%.
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 | IQQQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $401M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.73% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 108 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.53%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +18.91%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.5% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $15,097Best | $15,036 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 18, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 20, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.5 years).
IQQQ 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
IQQQ vs SPY Performance
Proshares Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (IQQQ) is an ETF from ProShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IQQQ returned +18.91% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, IQQQ is up 15.53% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IQQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 12.2% 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 -21.5% for IQQQ 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IQQQ charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IQQQ currently yields 5.73% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
80.2% of IQQQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.9% of SPY's money is in holdings IQQQ also owns.
Most of IQQQ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in IQQQ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 108 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 410 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IQQQ (45.4% of the fund), and 9 for IQQQ that do not appear in SPY (13.6%).
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 IQQQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.23% | 8.01% | 0.78% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.30% | 7.26% | 0.96% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.10% | 5.66% | 0.56% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 3.79% | 0.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.67% | 2.99% | 0.32% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.04% | 1.60% | 2.44% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.38% | 2.66% | 0.28% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.48% | 2.39% | 0.09% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.29% | 1.93% | 0.36% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.87% | 1.14% | 1.73% |
80.2% of IQQQ 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, IQQQ or SPY?
IQQQ has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IQQQ or SPY?
Over the past year IQQQ returned +18.91% vs +16.29% for SPY, so IQQQ leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IQQQ or SPY?
IQQQ has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 12.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IQQQ -21.5% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both IQQQ and SPY?
IQQQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 IQQQ and SPY?
80.2% of IQQQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.9% of SPY's is in holdings IQQQ also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in IQQQ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IQQQ or SPY?
IQQQ yields 5.73% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IQQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IQQQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IQQQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.