QQQ vs XME
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XME?
Large Cap Growth against Small Cap Value.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, XME over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. XME is less concentrated, with 45.1% 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 | XME |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $483.5B | $4.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.37% |
| Holdings | 107 | 40 |
| YTD Return | +16.87%Best | +5.81% |
| 1Y Return | +22.98% | +32.55%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.98% | +30.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | +21.64%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6%Best | 34.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -87.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,586 | $26,631Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 45.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Small Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jun 19, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 22, 2006 to Sep 11, 2026 (20.2 years).
QQQ vs XME 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XME Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF (XME) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% while XME returned +32.55%. Year to date, QQQ is up 16.87% versus a gain of 5.81% for XME.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +24.98% per year against +30.72% for XME; over five years the annualized figures are +14.39% and +21.64% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.77% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.5% compared with 18.6% for QQQ. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -87.3% for XME. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XME charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.44% against 0.37% for XME.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 102 holdings in QQQ and 40 in XME, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 40 in XME, against full books of 107 and 40.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 38 positions for XME that do not appear in our book for QQQ (94.1% of the fund), and 95 for QQQ that do not appear in XME (97.0%).
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 XME 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 XME?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XME charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XME?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.98% vs +32.55% for XME, so XME leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQQ annualized +15.77% vs +4.93% for XME. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XME?
XME has been the more volatile fund at 34.5% annualized versus 18.6% for QQQ. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs XME -87.3%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XME?
QQQ and XME have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, 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 XME?
QQQ yields 0.44% while XME yields 0.37%, so QQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XME better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over the full window, XME over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. XME is less concentrated, with 45.1% 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.