QQQ vs SPXT
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Technology ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPXT?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPXT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPXT is less concentrated, with 30.4% 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 | SPXT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $483.5B | $295M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 1.33% |
| Holdings | 107 | 430 |
| YTD Return | +15.94%Best | +6.83% |
| 1Y Return | +20.44%Best | +10.98% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.86%Best | +15.80% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.26%Best | +9.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -34.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,475Best | $15,613 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 30.4%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 22, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2015 to Sep 14, 2026 (11 years).
QQQ vs SPXT 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 11 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPXT Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and ProShares S&P 500 Ex-Technology ETF (SPXT) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% while SPXT returned +10.98%. Year to date, QQQ is up 15.94% versus a gain of 6.83% for SPXT.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.86% per year against +15.80% for SPXT; over five years the annualized figures are +14.26% and +9.32% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.49% annualized vs +10.56%.
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 14.3% for SPXT. 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 -34.4% for SPXT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPXT charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 1.33% for SPXT.
Holdings Overlap
38.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPXT also owns. 32.1% of SPXT's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
52 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 429 in SPXT, against full books of 107 and 430.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 367 positions for SPXT that do not appear in our book for QQQ (66.6% of the fund), and 44 for QQQ that do not appear in SPXT (58.6%).
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 SPXT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.67% | 6.18% | 1.51% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.36% | 4.84% | 1.48% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.13% | 3.85% | 0.72% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.78% | 3.05% | 0.27% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.56% | 2.52% | 0.04% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.41% | 1.12% | 1.29% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.84% | 1.02% | 0.82% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 1.37% | 0.83% | 0.54% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.00% | 0.55% | 0.45% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.97% | 0.56% | 0.41% |
38.9% of QQQ is already inside SPXT.
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 SPXT?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPXT charges 0.09%. SPXT is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPXT?
Over the past year QQQ returned +20.44% vs +10.98% for SPXT, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +19.49% vs +10.56% for SPXT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPXT?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 14.3% for SPXT. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPXT -34.4%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPXT?
QQQ and SPXT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 SPXT?
38.9% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPXT also owns. 32.1% of SPXT's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 52 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 429 in SPXT.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPXT?
QQQ yields 0.44% while SPXT yields 1.33%, so SPXT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPXT better than QQQ?
SPXT has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPXT is less concentrated, with 30.4% 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.