QQQ vs SPLB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPLB?
Large Cap Growth against Long Term Bond.
SPLB 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 | SPLB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $1.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 5.60% |
| Holdings | 107 | 2,933 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | -1.97% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | -3.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | +3.96% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | -3.56% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 10.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -35.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $8,342 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Long Term Bond |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Mar 10, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 11, 2009 to Sep 17, 2026 (17.5 years).
QQQ vs SPLB 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 SPLB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Long Term Corporate Bond ETF (SPLB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while SPLB returned -3.45%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a loss of 1.97% for SPLB.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +3.96% for SPLB; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and -3.56% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +20.62% annualized vs +1.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 10.8% for SPLB. 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 -35.2% for SPLB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPLB charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $4 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 5.60% for SPLB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPLB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SPLB, our book for it covers 83.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
QQQ and SPLB share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 2,703 in SPLB, against full books of 107 and 2,933.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SPLB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 1.69% | 0.00% | 1.69% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPLB 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 SPLB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPLB charges 0.04%. SPLB is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPLB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs -3.45% for SPLB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), QQQ annualized +20.62% vs +1.67% for SPLB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPLB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 10.8% for SPLB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPLB -35.2%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPLB?
QQQ and SPLB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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 SPLB?
At least 1.7% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPLB also owns. Our book for SPLB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 2,703 in SPLB.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPLB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPLB yields 5.60%, so SPLB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPLB better than QQQ?
SPLB 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.