QQQ vs SPE
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Special Opportunities Fund Inc
Which is better, QQQ or SPE?
Large Cap Growth against Allocation/Balanced.
QQQ 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 | SPE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 4.89% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $171M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 8.33% |
| Holdings | 107 | 158 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | -5.40% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | -8.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +14.87% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | +6.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -58.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $13,921 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Special Opportunities Fund |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 8, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 10, 1999 to Sep 18, 2026 (27.5 years).
QQQ vs SPE 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 SPE Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Special Opportunities Fund Inc (SPE) is an ETF from Special Opportunities Fund. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SPE returned -8.60%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 5.40% for SPE.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +14.87% for SPE; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and +6.84% respectively. Across the full 28-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +1.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 14.3% for SPE. 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 -83.0% for QQQ and -58.5% for SPE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPE charges 4.89%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $489 annually, a gap of $471 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 8.33% for SPE.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 104 in SPE, totalling 99.9% and 132.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 217 days apart, QQQ as of Aug 5, 2026 and SPE as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 104 in SPE, against full books of 107 and 158.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPE 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 SPE?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPE charges 4.89%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $471 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPE?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs -8.60% for SPE, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (28 years), QQQ annualized +13.04% vs +1.66% for SPE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPE?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 14.3% for SPE. Worst drawdown: QQQ -83.0% vs SPE -58.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPE?
QQQ and SPE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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 SPE?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPE yields 8.33%, so SPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPE better than QQQ?
QQQ 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.