QARP vs SPY
Xtrackers Russell 1000 US QARP ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QARP or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QARP led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QARP is less concentrated, with 30.3% 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 | QARP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $78M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 417 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.96%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +20.40%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.50% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.79% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 16.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,459 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 4, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 5, 2018 to Sep 10, 2026 (8.4 years).
QARP 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 8.4 years both funds cover.
QARP vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers Russell 1000 US QARP ETF (QARP) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QARP returned +20.40% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, QARP is up 13.96% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, QARP compounded at +17.50% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.79% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.24% annualized vs +13.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 16.4% for QARP. 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 -35.9% for QARP 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
QARP charges 0.19% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $9 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QARP currently yields 0.99% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
93.1% of QARP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 72.3% of SPY's money is in holdings QARP also owns.
Most of QARP is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
289 positions in common, counted across the 414 positions we hold weights for in QARP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 417 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 209 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QARP (27.4% of the fund), and 118 for QARP that do not appear in SPY (5.6%).
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 QARP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.90% | 6.83% | 1.93% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.78% | 7.71% | 4.93% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.77% | 5.50% | 0.73% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.17% | 4.08% | 1.91% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.84% | 1.94% | 1.90% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 1.87% | 3.33% | 1.46% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway B | 2.99% | 1.42% | 1.57% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.54% | 2.67% | 1.13% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.44% | 0.96% | 1.48% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 2.17% | 0.92% | 1.25% |
93.1% of QARP 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, QARP or SPY?
QARP has an expense ratio of 0.19% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QARP or SPY?
Over the past year QARP returned +20.40% vs +17.48% for SPY, so QARP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QARP annualized +13.39% vs +14.24% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QARP or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 16.4% for QARP. Worst drawdown: QARP -35.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QARP and SPY?
QARP 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 QARP and SPY?
93.1% of QARP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 72.3% of SPY's is in holdings QARP also owns. They hold 289 positions in common, counted across the 414 positions we hold weights for in QARP and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QARP or SPY?
QARP yields 0.99% while SPY yields 0.98%, so QARP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QARP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QARP led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. QARP is less concentrated, with 30.3% 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.