SPY vs THQ
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund
Which is better, SPY or THQ?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THQ over 1Y.
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 | THQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.46% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $784M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 10.93% |
| Holdings | 505 | 111 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +10.71% |
| 1Y Return | +19.97% | +29.98%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +14.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.81%Best | +4.70% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -45.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,270Best | $12,582 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Aberdeen |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 28, 2014 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 29, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (12.1 years).
SPY vs THQ 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 12.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs THQ Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund (THQ) is an ETF from Aberdeen. Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% while THQ returned +29.98%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.34% versus a gain of 10.71% for THQ.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +14.00% for THQ; over five years the annualized figures are +12.81% and +4.70% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.62% annualized vs +4.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
THQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 14.8% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -45.8% for THQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while THQ charges 1.46%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $146 annually, a gap of $137 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 10.93% for THQ.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.2% of SPY's money is in holdings THQ also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for THQ, our book for it lists positions totalling 125.9% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and THQ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 216 days apart, SPY as of Aug 4, 2026 and THQ as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
29 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 98 in THQ, against full books of 505 and 111.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in THQ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.65% | 7.22% | 6.57% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.33% | 5.81% | 4.48% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.47% | 6.11% | 5.64% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.28% | 6.29% | 6.01% |
| DHRDanaher Corporation | 0.18% | 4.37% | 4.19% |
| MDTMEDTRONIC | 0.17% | 4.27% | 4.10% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc. | 0.20% | 4.03% | 3.83% |
| TMOThermo Fisherscientific Inc. | 0.32% | 3.61% | 3.29% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.20% | 3.39% | 3.19% |
| ZTSZoetis Inc, Class A | 0.05% | 2.82% | 2.77% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and THQ 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 THQ?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while THQ charges 1.46%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $137 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or THQ?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% vs +29.98% for THQ, so THQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SPY annualized +12.62% vs +4.01% for THQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or THQ?
THQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs THQ -45.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and THQ?
SPY and THQ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 SPY and THQ?
At least 7.2% of SPY's money is in holdings THQ also owns. Our book for THQ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 98 in THQ.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or THQ?
SPY yields 1.01% while THQ yields 10.93%, so THQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THQ better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THQ over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.