QQQ vs SPIP
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio TIPS ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPIP?
Large Cap Growth against Inflation Protection.
SPIP 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 | SPIP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.12%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 5.99% |
| Holdings | 107 | 50 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | -0.93% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | -1.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63%Best | +3.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24%Best | -0.27% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 5.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,324Best | $9,866 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Inflation Protection |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 25, 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 18, 2026 (19.3 years).
QQQ vs SPIP 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 SPIP Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio TIPS ETF (SPIP) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SPIP returned -1.31%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 0.93% for SPIP.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.63% per year against +3.51% for SPIP; over five years the annualized figures are +15.24% and -0.27% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.37% annualized vs +1.50%.
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 5.9% for SPIP. 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 -18.7% for SPIP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.31. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPIP charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $12 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 5.99% for SPIP.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPIP 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 SPIP?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPIP charges 0.12%. SPIP is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPIP?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs -1.31% for SPIP, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), QQQ annualized +15.37% vs +1.50% for SPIP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPIP?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 5.9% for SPIP. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SPIP -18.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPIP?
QQQ and SPIP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.31, 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 SPIP?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPIP yields 5.99%, so SPIP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPIP better than QQQ?
SPIP 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.