SPY vs SQBA
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs FT Vest US Equity Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF
Which is better, SPY or SQBA?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
SPY has a lower expense ratio.
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 | SPY | SQBA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $2M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | - |
| YTD Return | +11.45%Best | +0.02% |
| 1Y Return | +15.87% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.93% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.59% | - |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 21, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
SPY vs SQBA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs SQBA Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and FT Vest US Equity Quarterly 15 Buffer ETF (SQBA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Year to date, SPY is up 11.45% versus a gain of 0.02% for SQBA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SQBA charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for SQBA.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and SQBA 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, SPY or SQBA?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SQBA charges 0.85%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SQBA?
SPY yields 0.98% while SQBA yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SQBA better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.