QUS vs SPY
State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QUS or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. QUS is less concentrated, with 22.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | QUS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 529 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.56% | +12.89%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.34% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.95% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.90% | +13.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.8%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,775 | $18,433Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 15, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 16, 2015 to Sep 24, 2026 (11.4 years).
QUS 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
QUS vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF (QUS) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QUS returned +14.34% while SPY returned +17.01%. Year to date, QUS is up 10.56% versus a gain of 12.89% for SPY.
Over three years, QUS compounded at +17.95% per year against +22.46% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.90% and +13.01% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.70% annualized vs +11.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.9% for QUS. 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 -33.8% for QUS 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QUS charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QUS currently yields 1.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
96.0% of QUS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.1% of SPY's money is in holdings QUS also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside QUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
438 positions in common, counted across the 513 positions we hold weights for in QUS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 529 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 66 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QUS (1.8% of the fund), and 48 for QUS that do not appear in SPY (3.4%).
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 QUS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.74% | 8.01% | 5.27% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.02% | 7.26% | 4.24% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.64% | 5.66% | 2.02% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.00% | 3.79% | 2.79% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.28% | 2.99% | 1.71% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.07% | 1.93% | 0.14% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.18% | 1.40% | 0.78% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.14% | 2.39% | 1.25% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.49% | 2.66% | 2.17% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.99% | 0.94% | 1.05% |
98.1% of SPY is already inside QUS.
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, QUS or SPY?
QUS has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QUS or SPY?
Over the past year QUS returned +14.34% vs +17.01% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QUS annualized +11.48% vs +12.70% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QUS or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.9% for QUS. Worst drawdown: QUS -33.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both QUS and SPY?
QUS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QUS and SPY?
98.1% of SPY's money is in holdings QUS also owns. 98.1% of SPY's is in holdings QUS also owns. They hold 438 positions in common, counted across the 513 positions we hold weights for in QUS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QUS or SPY?
QUS yields 1.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so QUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QUS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. QUS is less concentrated, with 22.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.