QLVE vs SPY
Northern Trust Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QLVE or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QLVE led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QLVE is less concentrated, with 36.6% 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 | QLVE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.62% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 169 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.56%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +27.48%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.53% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.76% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 16.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -30.0%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,531 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 16, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.1 years).
QLVE 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 7.1 years both funds cover.
QLVE vs SPY Performance
Northern Trust Emerging Markets Quality Low Volatility ETF (QLVE) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QLVE returned +27.48% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, QLVE is up 16.56% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, QLVE compounded at +18.53% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.76% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.33% annualized vs +6.88%.
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 13.1% for QLVE. 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 -30.0% for QLVE 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLVE charges 0.18% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLVE currently yields 2.62% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 139 holdings in QLVE and 504 in SPY, totalling 97.5% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in QLVE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 169 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QLVE (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for QLVE that do not appear in SPY (0.8%).
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 QLVE 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, QLVE or SPY?
QLVE has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLVE or SPY?
Over the past year QLVE returned +27.48% vs +19.97% for SPY, so QLVE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QLVE annualized +6.88% vs +15.33% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLVE or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 13.1% for QLVE. Worst drawdown: QLVE -30.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QLVE and SPY?
QLVE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, QLVE or SPY?
QLVE yields 2.62% while SPY yields 1.01%, so QLVE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QLVE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QLVE led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QLVE is less concentrated, with 36.6% 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.