QQQS vs SPY
Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QQQS or SPY?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QQQS led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. QQQS is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | QQQS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $22M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 205 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +27.13%Best | +12.19% |
| 1Y Return | +41.98%Best | +18.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.12%Best | +20.88% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.7% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.1% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $18,099 | $21,856Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 13, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 13, 2022 to Sep 9, 2026 (3.9 years).
QQQS vs SPY 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
QQQS vs SPY Performance
Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF (QQQS) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQS returned +41.98% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, QQQS is up 27.13% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, QQQS compounded at +22.12% per year against +20.88% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +22.20% annualized vs +16.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.7% compared with 13.0% for SPY. 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 -38.1% for QQQS and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQS charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQS currently yields 2.54% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
1.6% of QQQS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings QQQS also owns.
QQQS and SPY share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 203 positions we hold weights for in QQQS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 205 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QQQS (99.4% of the fund), and 185 for QQQS that do not appear in SPY (91.1%).
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 QQQS and SPY 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, QQQS or SPY?
QQQS has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQS or SPY?
Over the past year QQQS returned +41.98% vs +18.53% for SPY, so QQQS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), QQQS annualized +16.43% vs +22.20% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQS or SPY?
QQQS has been the more volatile fund at 26.7% annualized versus 13.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: QQQS -38.1% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both QQQS and SPY?
QQQS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 QQQS and SPY?
1.6% of QQQS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings QQQS also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 203 positions we hold weights for in QQQS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQS or SPY?
QQQS yields 2.54% while SPY yields 0.98%, so QQQS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QQQS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QQQS led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. QQQS is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.