QQQ vs SPTB
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Treasury ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPTB?
QQQ has been ahead.
SPTB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y 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 | SPTB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $477M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 4.21% |
| Holdings | 107 | 286 |
| YTD Return | +17.95%Best | -1.46% |
| 1Y Return | +21.77%Best | -0.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.63% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 3.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -22.8% | -5.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $15,930Best | $10,637 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Money Market |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | - |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | May 20, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.3 years).
QQQ vs SPTB 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPTB Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Treasury ETF (SPTB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% while SPTB returned -0.78%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.95% versus a loss of 1.46% for SPTB.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 3.9% for SPTB. 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 -5.0% for SPTB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.08. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPTB charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 4.21% for SPTB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 1 in SPTB, totalling 99.9% and 0.9% 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 1 in SPTB, against full books of 107 and 286.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPTB 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 SPTB?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPTB charges 0.03%. SPTB is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPTB?
Over the past year QQQ returned +21.77% vs -0.78% for SPTB, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), QQQ annualized +22.44% vs +2.72% for SPTB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPTB?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 3.9% for SPTB. Worst drawdown: QQQ -22.8% vs SPTB -5.0%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPTB?
QQQ and SPTB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.08, 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 SPTB?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPTB yields 4.21%, so SPTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPTB better than QQQ?
SPTB has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.