QQQ vs SDTY

QQQ vs SDTY

Which is better, QQQ or SDTY?

Large Cap Growth against Option Writing.

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: QQQHigher Returns: QQQ

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

MetricQQQSDTY
Expense Ratio0.18%Best1.08%
AUM$483.5B$41M
Dividend Yield0.44%28.08%
Holdings1076
YTD Return+17.95%Best+10.80%
1Y Return+21.77%Best+15.39%
3Y Return (annualized)+25.63%-
5Y Return (annualized)+15.24%-
Volatility (annualized)20.3%13.7%Best
Max Drawdown-22.8%-16.3%Best
$10,000 over 1.6 years$13,690Best$13,344
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)YieldMax ETF
CategoryEquityAlternative
StyleLarge Cap GrowthOption Writing
InceptionMar 10, 1999Feb 5, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 6, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.6 years).

QQQ vs SDTY 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 1.6 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs SDTY Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and YieldMax S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF (SDTY) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SDTY returned +15.39%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a gain of 10.80% for SDTY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 13.7% for SDTY. 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 -22.8% for QQQ and -16.3% for SDTY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SDTY charges 1.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $108 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 28.08% for SDTY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in SDTY, totalling 99.9% and 12.0% 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 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1 in SDTY, against full books of 107 and 6.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QQQ and SDTY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QQQSDTY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SDTY?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SDTY charges 1.08%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SDTY?

Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs +15.39% for SDTY, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +21.69% vs +19.76% for SDTY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SDTY?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 13.7% for SDTY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SDTY -16.3%.

Should I hold both QQQ and SDTY?

QQQ and SDTY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, QQQ or SDTY?

QQQ yields 0.44% while SDTY yields 28.08%, so SDTY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SDTY better than QQQ?

QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.