SPY vs YQQQ
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs YieldMax Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF
Which is better, SPY or YQQQ?
Opposite sides of the same exposure.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two move opposite each other, correlation -0.85, so holding both offsets the exposure while paying both fees.
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 | YQQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.11% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $15M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 28.84% |
| Holdings | 505 | 15 |
| YTD Return | +11.97%Best | -4.79% |
| 1Y Return | +16.40%Best | -3.91% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.10% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -29.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $14,129Best | $8,258 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 14, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2024 to Sep 14, 2026 (2.1 years).
SPY vs YQQQ 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs YQQQ Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and YieldMax Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF (YQQQ) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year SPY returned +16.40% while YQQQ returned -3.91%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.97% versus a loss of 4.79% for YQQQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YQQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.4% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -29.1% for YQQQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.85. They move opposite each other. Holding both offsets the exposure rather than spreading it, while paying both funds' fees.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YQQQ charges 1.11%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $111 annually, a gap of $102 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 28.84% for YQQQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 2 in YQQQ, totalling 99.9% and 50.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 2 in YQQQ, against full books of 505 and 15.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and YQQQ 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 YQQQ?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YQQQ charges 1.11%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $102 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YQQQ?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.40% vs -3.91% for YQQQ, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +17.89% vs -8.71% for YQQQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or YQQQ?
YQQQ has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs YQQQ -29.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and YQQQ?
SPY and YQQQ have a monthly-return correlation of -0.85, so they move opposite each other. Holding both offsets the exposure rather than spreading it, and pays both funds' fees on the way. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or YQQQ?
SPY yields 0.98% while YQQQ yields 28.84%, so YQQQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YQQQ better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two move opposite each other, correlation -0.85, so holding both offsets the exposure while paying both fees. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.