QQQ vs SPAM
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Themes Cybersecurity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPAM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, SPAM over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%.
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 | SPAM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $486.1B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.37% |
| Holdings | 107 | 45 |
| YTD Return | +17.44% | +43.36%Best |
| 1Y Return | +24.69% | +33.84%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.76% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.22% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9%Best | 23.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8%Best | -24.0% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $18,817Best | $17,539 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5%Best | 49.4% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Themes ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Dec 8, 2023 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 8, 2023 to Sep 8, 2026 (2.8 years).
QQQ vs SPAM 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPAM Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Themes Cybersecurity ETF (SPAM) is an ETF from Themes ETFs. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% while SPAM returned +33.84%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.44% versus a gain of 43.36% for SPAM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPAM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.3% compared with 16.9% for QQQ. 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 -24.0% for SPAM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPAM charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.37% for SPAM.
Holdings Overlap
3.2% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPAM also owns. 23.8% of SPAM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SPAM and QQQ share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 37 in SPAM, against full books of 107 and 45.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 23 positions for SPAM that do not appear in our book for QQQ (59.9% of the fund), and 90 for QQQ that do not appear in SPAM (93.9%).
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.
23.8% of SPAM is already inside QQQ.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SPAM?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPAM charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPAM?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.69% vs +33.84% for SPAM, so SPAM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPAM?
SPAM has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 16.9% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SPAM -24.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPAM?
QQQ and SPAM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SPAM?
23.8% of SPAM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 23.8% of SPAM's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 37 in SPAM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPAM?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPAM yields 0.37%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPAM better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, SPAM over 1Y. QQQ is less concentrated, with 46.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.