QLDY vs SPY
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Quick Verdict
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 505 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | QLDY | SPY | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.04% | 0.09% | |
| AUM | $51M | $821.1B | |
| Dividend Yield | 38.48% | 1.01% | |
| Holdings | 7 | 505 | |
| YTD Return | +12.87% | +12.22% | |
| 1Y Return | +15.60% | +20.83% | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.70% | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.98% | |
| Volatility (annualized) | - | 15.3% | |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8% | -56.5% | |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management | |
| Category | Alternative | Equity | |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
QLDY vs SPY Performance
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF (QLDY) is a ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QLDY returned +15.60% while SPY returned +20.83%. Year to date, QLDY is up 12.87% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -14.8% for QLDY and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLDY charges 1.04% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $104 vs $9 annually, a gap of $95 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLDY currently yields 38.48% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
QLDY and SPY share 0 holdings out of 507 unique holdings combined, representing a 0.0% weight overlap.
Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QLDY or SPY?
QLDY has an expense ratio of 1.04% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $95 per year of difference.
Which performed better, QLDY or SPY?
Over the past year QLDY returned +15.60% vs +20.83% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
What is the holdings overlap between QLDY and SPY?
QLDY and SPY share 0 common holdings with a 0.0% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 507 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, QLDY or SPY?
QLDY yields 38.48% while SPY yields 1.01%, so QLDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
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