QGRO vs SPY
American Century US Quality Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QGRO or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QGRO led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. QGRO is less concentrated, with 29.4% 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 | QGRO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 188 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +1.33% | +11.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.81% | +15.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.31% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.65% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,851 | $18,093Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 10, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2018 to Sep 15, 2026 (8 years).
QGRO 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 years both funds cover.
QGRO vs SPY Performance
American Century US Quality Growth ETF (QGRO) is an ETF from American Century Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QGRO returned +1.81% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, QGRO is up 1.33% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, QGRO compounded at +19.31% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.65% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QGRO has the edge at +14.37% annualized vs +13.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QGRO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 16.9% 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 -32.6% for QGRO 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 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QGRO charges 0.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $9 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QGRO currently yields 0.19% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
77.5% of QGRO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 61.9% of SPY's money is in holdings QGRO also owns.
Most of QGRO is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
141 positions in common, counted across the 238 positions we hold weights for in QGRO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 188 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 356 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QGRO (37.4% of the fund), and 73 for QGRO that do not appear in SPY (20.3%).
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 QGRO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.69% | 7.26% | 3.57% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.10% | 5.66% | 2.56% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.00% | 8.01% | 8.01% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.93% | 3.79% | 0.86% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.26% | 2.99% | 0.27% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.81% | 1.40% | 1.41% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.32% | 0.71% | 2.61% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.06% | 1.60% | 0.46% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.57% | 0.63% | 1.94% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.17% | 1.93% | 0.76% |
77.5% of QGRO 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, QGRO or SPY?
QGRO has an expense ratio of 0.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QGRO or SPY?
Over the past year QGRO returned +1.81% vs +15.87% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QGRO annualized +14.37% vs +13.83% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QGRO or SPY?
QGRO has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 16.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: QGRO -32.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QGRO and SPY?
QGRO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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 QGRO and SPY?
77.5% of QGRO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 61.9% of SPY's is in holdings QGRO also owns. They hold 141 positions in common, counted across the 238 positions we hold weights for in QGRO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QGRO or SPY?
QGRO yields 0.19% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QGRO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QGRO led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. QGRO is less concentrated, with 29.4% 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.