QHDG vs SPY
Innovator Hedged Nasdaq-100 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QHDG or SPY?
Market Neutral Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%.
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 | QHDG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 106 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.8%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.3%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,106 | $13,866Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Market Neutral Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 63 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. QHDG has data through Jul 10, 2026 and SPY through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 20, 2024 to Jul 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 8.8% for QHDG. 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 -15.3% for QHDG 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QHDG charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QHDG currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
93.1% of QHDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.2% of SPY's money is in holdings QHDG also owns.
Most of QHDG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, QHDG as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
86 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 106 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 408 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QHDG (46.3% of the fund), and 6 for QHDG that do not appear in SPY (1.5%).
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 QHDG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.56% | 7.71% | 0.85% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.53% | 6.83% | 0.70% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 5.50% | 0.00% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.53% | 4.08% | 0.45% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.48% | 3.33% | 0.15% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.98% | 2.97% | 0.01% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.22% | 2.67% | 0.55% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.44% | 1.94% | 1.50% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.81% | 1.38% | 2.43% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 3.38% | 0.73% | 2.65% |
93.1% of QHDG 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, QHDG or SPY?
QHDG has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, QHDG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 8.8% for QHDG. Worst drawdown: QHDG -15.3% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both QHDG and SPY?
QHDG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QHDG and SPY?
93.1% of QHDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.2% of SPY's is in holdings QHDG also owns. They hold 86 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QHDG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QHDG or SPY?
QHDG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QHDG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.