QTUM vs SPY
Defiance Quantum ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QTUM or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QTUM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTUM is less concentrated, with 16.9% 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 | QTUM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 179 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +31.65%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +50.35%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +45.00%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.27%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.1% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,637Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2018 to Sep 11, 2026 (8 years).
QTUM 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 8 years both funds cover.
QTUM vs SPY Performance
Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QTUM returned +50.35% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, QTUM is up 31.65% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, QTUM compounded at +45.00% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +24.27% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, QTUM has the edge at +25.76% annualized vs +13.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QTUM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.1% compared with 16.9% 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 -38.5% for QTUM and -34.1% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QTUM charges 0.40% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $9 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QTUM currently yields 0.80% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
35.3% of QTUM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.6% of SPY's money is in holdings QTUM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in QTUM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 179 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 462 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QTUM (65.9% of the fund), and 23 for QTUM that do not appear in SPY (27.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QTUM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.30% | 7.71% | 6.41% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.51% | 5.50% | 3.99% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.29% | 4.08% | 2.79% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 1.13% | 3.33% | 2.20% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.18% | 2.97% | 1.79% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.27% | 1.51% | 0.24% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.23% | 1.27% | 0.04% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.69% | 0.56% | 1.13% |
| RTXRaytheon Technologies Corp | 1.39% | 0.44% | 0.95% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.10% | 0.72% | 0.38% |
35.3% of QTUM is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QTUM or SPY?
QTUM has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QTUM or SPY?
Over the past year QTUM returned +50.35% vs +17.51% for SPY, so QTUM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), QTUM annualized +25.76% vs +13.95% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QTUM or SPY?
QTUM has been the more volatile fund at 26.1% annualized versus 16.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: QTUM -38.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QTUM and SPY?
QTUM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 QTUM and SPY?
35.3% of QTUM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.6% of SPY's is in holdings QTUM also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in QTUM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QTUM or SPY?
QTUM yields 0.80% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QTUM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QTUM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. QTUM is less concentrated, with 16.9% 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.