QQQ vs SPHY

QQQ vs SPHY

Which is better, QQQ or SPHY?

Large Cap Growth against High Yield Bond.

SPHY has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPHYHigher 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

MetricQQQSPHY
Expense Ratio0.18%0.05%Best
AUM$483.5B$11.9B
Dividend Yield0.44%7.19%
Holdings1071,925
YTD Return+15.18%Best+1.42%
1Y Return+19.65%Best+2.83%
3Y Return (annualized)+24.60%Best+7.95%
5Y Return (annualized)+13.94%Best+3.76%
Volatility (annualized)20.6%8.5%Best
Max Drawdown-35.1%-22.4%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$19,204Best$12,027
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)State Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityFixed Income
StyleLarge Cap GrowthHigh Yield Bond
InceptionMar 10, 1999Jun 18, 2012

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 23, 2019 to Sep 15, 2026 (7 years).

QQQ vs SPHY 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 7 years both funds cover.

QQQ vs SPHY Performance

Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio High Yield Bond ETF (SPHY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% while SPHY returned +2.83%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.18% versus a gain of 1.42% for SPHY.

Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.60% per year against +7.95% for SPHY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.94% and +3.76% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +21.17% annualized vs +3.55%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% compared with 8.5% for SPHY. 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 -35.1% for QQQ and -22.4% for SPHY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPHY charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $5 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 7.19% for SPHY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 2 in SPHY, totalling 99.9% and 0.5% 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 2 in SPHY, against full books of 107 and 1,925.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

QQQSPHY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QQQ or SPHY?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPHY charges 0.05%. SPHY is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QQQ or SPHY?

Over the past year QQQ returned +19.65% vs +2.83% for SPHY, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QQQ annualized +21.17% vs +3.55% for SPHY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QQQ or SPHY?

QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 8.5% for SPHY. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPHY -22.4%.

Should I hold both QQQ and SPHY?

QQQ and SPHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 SPHY?

QQQ yields 0.44% while SPHY yields 7.19%, so SPHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPHY better than QQQ?

SPHY 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.