QQQ vs SLYG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SLYG?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Growth.
SLYG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | QQQ | SLYG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.15%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.67% |
| Holdings | 107 | 351 |
| YTD Return | +15.18%Best | +15.03% |
| 1Y Return | +19.65%Best | +17.09% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.60%Best | +14.28% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.94%Best | +5.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.1% | 21.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.9% | -62.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,204Best | $12,934 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 9.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 25, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 2, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026 (26 years).
QQQ vs SLYG 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 26 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SLYG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while SLYG returned +17.09%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 15.03% for SLYG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +14.28% for SLYG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +5.28% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +8.54% annualized vs +6.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 21.2% for SLYG. 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 -76.9% for QQQ and -62.1% for SLYG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SLYG charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $15 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.67% for SLYG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 347 in SLYG, totalling 99.9% and 99.1% 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 347 in SLYG, against full books of 107 and 351.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 340 positions for SLYG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (96.8% of the fund), and 96 for QQQ that do not appear in SLYG (97.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SLYG 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, QQQ or SLYG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SLYG charges 0.15%. SLYG is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SLYG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +17.09% for SLYG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), QQQ annualized +8.54% vs +6.16% for SLYG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SLYG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 21.2% for SLYG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -76.9% vs SLYG -62.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SLYG?
QQQ and SLYG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 SLYG?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SLYG yields 0.67%, so SLYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SLYG better than QQQ?
SLYG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.