QINT vs SPY
American Century Quality Diversified International ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QINT or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QINT led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. QINT is less concentrated, with 11.9% 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 | QINT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $745M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.44% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 381 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.35%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +25.08%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.10%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.63% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6%Best | 16.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,836 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | 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 4, 2026 (8 years).
QINT 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.
QINT vs SPY Performance
American Century Quality Diversified International ETF (QINT) 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 QINT returned +25.08% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, QINT is up 14.35% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, QINT compounded at +22.10% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.63% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.12% annualized vs +10.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 16.6% for QINT. 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 -33.9% for QINT 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QINT charges 0.34% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $9 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QINT currently yields 2.44% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of QINT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings QINT also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 346 positions we hold weights for in QINT and 503 in SPY, against full books of 381 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 490 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QINT (99.3% of the fund), and 3 for QINT that do not appear in SPY (0.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QINT and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QINT or SPY?
QINT has an expense ratio of 0.34% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QINT or SPY?
Over the past year QINT returned +25.08% vs +19.97% for SPY, so QINT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QINT annualized +10.07% vs +14.12% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QINT or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 16.6% for QINT. Worst drawdown: QINT -33.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QINT and SPY?
QINT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, QINT or SPY?
QINT yields 2.44% while SPY yields 1.01%, so QINT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QINT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QINT led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. QINT is less concentrated, with 11.9% 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.