JQUA vs SPY
JPMorgan US Quality Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JQUA or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JQUA led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. JQUA is less concentrated, with 18.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | JQUA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $8.7B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 313 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.59%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +18.62%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.46% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.86%Best | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 16.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.9%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,311Best | $18,044 |
| Top 10 Weight | 18.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 8, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 9, 2017 to Sep 16, 2026 (8.9 years).
JQUA 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 8.9 years both funds cover.
JQUA vs SPY Performance
JPMorgan US Quality Factor ETF (JQUA) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year JQUA returned +18.62% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, JQUA is up 16.59% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, JQUA compounded at +19.46% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.86% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, JQUA has the edge at +13.90% annualized vs +13.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 15.3% for JQUA. 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 -32.9% for JQUA and -34.1% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JQUA charges 0.12% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $9 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JQUA currently yields 1.04% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
81.1% of JQUA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 61.4% of SPY's money is in holdings JQUA also owns.
Most of JQUA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
190 positions in common, counted across the 303 positions we hold weights for in JQUA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 313 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 310 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for JQUA (38.0% of the fund), and 103 for JQUA that do not appear in SPY (16.7%).
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 JQUA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.05% | 8.01% | 5.96% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.07% | 7.26% | 5.19% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.12% | 5.66% | 3.54% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.80% | 2.99% | 1.19% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.84% | 2.66% | 0.82% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.66% | 1.93% | 0.27% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.86% | 1.60% | 0.26% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.63% | 1.40% | 0.23% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.75% | 1.14% | 0.61% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.73% | 1.04% | 0.69% |
81.1% of JQUA 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, JQUA or SPY?
JQUA has an expense ratio of 0.12% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JQUA or SPY?
Over the past year JQUA returned +18.62% vs +15.52% for SPY, so JQUA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), JQUA annualized +13.90% vs +13.82% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JQUA or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 15.3% for JQUA. Worst drawdown: JQUA -32.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both JQUA and SPY?
JQUA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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 JQUA and SPY?
81.1% of JQUA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 61.4% of SPY's is in holdings JQUA also owns. They hold 190 positions in common, counted across the 303 positions we hold weights for in JQUA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, JQUA or SPY?
JQUA yields 1.04% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JQUA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JQUA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JQUA led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. JQUA is less concentrated, with 18.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.