QQQ vs SPTM
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPTM?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPTM has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPTM is less concentrated, with 34.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | SPTM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $14.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 107 | 1,517 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | +12.26% |
| 1Y Return | +22.10%Best | +16.90% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.27%Best | +20.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.60%Best | +12.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.2% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Tie | -35.1%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,766Best | $18,101 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 34.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 4, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2014 to Sep 17, 2026 (12.6 years).
QQQ vs SPTM 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 12.6 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPTM Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% while SPTM returned +16.90%. Year to date, QQQ is up 17.21% versus a gain of 12.26% for SPTM.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +25.27% per year against +20.58% for SPTM; over five years the annualized figures are +14.60% and +12.60% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +18.22% annualized vs +12.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.2% compared with 14.8% for SPTM. 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 -35.1% for SPTM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPTM 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 1.04% for SPTM.
Holdings Overlap
94.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPTM also owns. 49.8% of SPTM's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside SPTM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,500 in SPTM, against full books of 107 and 1,517.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 936 positions for SPTM that do not appear in our book for QQQ (48.5% of the fund), and 9 for QQQ that do not appear in SPTM (2.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SPTM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.44% | 7.33% | 1.11% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.27% | 6.54% | 0.73% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.76% | 5.31% | 0.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 3.63% | 1.04% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 2.83% | 0.53% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.43% | 1.46% | 2.97% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.16% | 2.43% | 0.73% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 2.25% | 0.88% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 1.76% | 1.02% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.45% | 1.05% | 2.40% |
94.6% of QQQ is already inside SPTM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SPTM?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPTM charges 0.03%. SPTM is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPTM?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.10% vs +16.90% for SPTM, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), QQQ annualized +18.22% vs +12.22% for SPTM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPTM?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.2% annualized versus 14.8% for SPTM. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPTM -35.1%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPTM?
QQQ and SPTM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SPTM?
94.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPTM also owns. 49.8% of SPTM's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 87 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,500 in SPTM.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPTM?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPTM yields 1.04%, so SPTM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPTM better than QQQ?
SPTM has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPTM is less concentrated, with 34.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.