QQQ vs SPAB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPAB?
QQQ has been ahead.
SPAB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SPAB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $10.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.12% |
| Holdings | 107 | 8,339 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | -1.32% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | -0.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +4.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | -0.62% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 4.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5% | -19.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $9,694 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 23, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 30, 2007 to Sep 14, 2026 (19.3 years).
QQQ vs SPAB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
QQQ vs SPAB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while SPAB returned -0.87%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a loss of 1.32% for SPAB.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +4.03% for SPAB; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and -0.62% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.27% annualized vs +0.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 4.4% for SPAB. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -19.5% for SPAB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPAB charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.12% for SPAB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPAB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SPAB, our book for it covers 7.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 68 in SPAB, against full books of 107 and 8,339.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SPAB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa, Inc. 3.875% 15-Apr-2030 | 0.82% | 0.02% | 0.80% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPAB 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 SPAB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPAB charges 0.03%. SPAB is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPAB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs -0.87% for SPAB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.27% vs +0.64% for SPAB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPAB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 4.4% for SPAB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SPAB -19.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPAB?
QQQ and SPAB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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 SPAB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPAB yields 4.12%, so SPAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPAB better than QQQ?
SPAB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.