QQQ vs SPYD
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPYD?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Value.
SPYD has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPYD is less concentrated, with 15.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | SPYD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $7.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 4.09% |
| Holdings | 321 | 165 |
| YTD Return | +22.95%Best | +8.45% |
| 1Y Return | +23.60%Best | +10.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.53%Best | +14.57% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.67%Best | +7.43% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 17.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.1%Best | -47.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,617Best | $14,310 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 15.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 21, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2015 to Oct 9, 2026 (11 years).
QQQ vs SPYD 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 SPYD Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 High Dividend ETF (SPYD) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +23.60% while SPYD returned +10.41%. Year to date, QQQ is up 22.95% versus a gain of 8.45% for SPYD.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.53% per year against +14.57% for SPYD; over five years the annualized figures are +16.67% and +7.43% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +19.54% annualized vs +6.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 17.9% for SPYD. 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 -47.3% for SPYD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPYD charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $7 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 4.09% for SPYD.
Holdings Overlap
2.0% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPYD also owns. 7.5% of SPYD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
SPYD and QQQ share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 80 in SPYD, against full books of 321 and 165.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for SPYD that do not appear in our book for QQQ (90.8% of the fund), and 90 for QQQ that do not appear in SPYD (95.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPYD 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 SPYD?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPYD charges 0.07%. SPYD is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPYD?
Over the past year QQQ returned +23.60% vs +10.41% for SPYD, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QQQ annualized +19.54% vs +6.28% for SPYD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPYD?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 17.9% for SPYD. Worst drawdown: QQQ -35.1% vs SPYD -47.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPYD?
QQQ and SPYD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 SPYD?
7.5% of SPYD's money is in holdings QQQ also owns. 7.5% of SPYD's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 80 in SPYD.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPYD?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SPYD yields 4.09%, so SPYD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYD better than QQQ?
SPYD has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPYD is less concentrated, with 15.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.