SPY vs TQQY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs GraniteShares YieldBOOST QQQ ETF
Which is better, SPY or TQQY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | TQQY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.15% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $6M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 57.23% |
| Holdings | 505 | 6 |
| YTD Return | +12.47%Best | +5.67% |
| 1Y Return | +17.51%Best | +1.64% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 22.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.2%Best | -21.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $12,988Best | $11,355 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | GraniteShares |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 26, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.5 years).
SPY vs TQQY 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TQQY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and GraniteShares YieldBOOST QQQ ETF (TQQY) is an ETF from GraniteShares. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while TQQY returned +1.64%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a gain of 5.67% for TQQY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TQQY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 13.1% 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 -16.2% for SPY and -21.8% for TQQY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TQQY charges 1.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $115 annually, a gap of $106 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 57.23% for TQQY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TQQY 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 TQQY?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TQQY charges 1.15%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $106 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TQQY?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs +1.64% for TQQY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +19.04% vs +8.84% for TQQY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TQQY?
TQQY has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -16.2% vs TQQY -21.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and TQQY?
SPY and TQQY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TQQY?
SPY yields 0.98% while TQQY yields 57.23%, so TQQY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TQQY better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.