QQQ vs SPYC
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs Simplify US Equity PLUS Convexity ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPYC?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPYC is less concentrated, with 44.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | SPYC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.53% |
| AUM | $437.3B | $70M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 208 | 407 |
| YTD Return | +12.98%Best | +4.63% |
| 1Y Return | +11.59%Best | +2.33% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.05%Best | +17.28% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.74%Best | +7.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1% | -28.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,213Best | $14,071 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9% | 44.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 3, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 4, 2020 to Nov 11, 2026 (6.2 years).
QQQ vs SPYC 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPYC Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Simplify US Equity PLUS Convexity ETF (SPYC) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds. Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% while SPYC returned +2.33%. Year to date, QQQ is up 12.98% versus a gain of 4.63% for SPYC.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +23.05% per year against +17.28% for SPYC; over five years the annualized figures are +12.74% and +7.07% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +16.10% annualized vs +11.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 16.3% for SPYC. 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 -28.5% for SPYC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPYC charges 0.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $53 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.43% against 1.10% for SPYC.
Holdings Overlap
78.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPYC also owns. 55.2% of SPYC's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside SPYC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
56 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 166 in SPYC, against full books of 208 and 407.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 108 positions for SPYC that do not appear in our book for QQQ (43.3% of the fund), and 38 for QQQ that do not appear in SPYC (18.7%).
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 SPYC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.05% | 7.46% | 0.59% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.68% | 4.68% | 3.00% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.16% | 4.76% | 1.40% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.23% | 6.10% | 1.87% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.15% | 7.14% | 3.99% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.52% | 3.75% | 1.23% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.47% | 1.41% | 3.06% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.37% | 2.17% | 1.20% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.90% | 1.25% | 2.65% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Inc | 0.90% | 3.26% | 2.36% |
78.5% of QQQ is already inside SPYC.
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 SPYC?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPYC charges 0.53%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPYC?
Over the past year QQQ returned +11.59% vs +2.33% for SPYC, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), QQQ annualized +16.10% vs +11.15% for SPYC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPYC?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 16.3% for SPYC. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPYC -28.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPYC?
QQQ and SPYC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 SPYC?
78.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPYC also owns. 55.2% of SPYC's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 56 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 166 in SPYC.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPYC?
QQQ yields 0.43% while SPYC yields 1.10%, so SPYC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYC better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPYC is less concentrated, with 44.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.