QQQ vs SPEU
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPEU?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPEU has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | QQQ | SPEU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $506.1B | $693M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 3.59% |
| Holdings | 321 | 1,737 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +3.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +10.15% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18%Best | +17.28% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42%Best | +8.05% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 18.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.5%Best | -64.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,484Best | $14,727 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 17.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Oct 15, 2002 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2002 to Oct 14, 2026 (24 years).
QQQ vs SPEU 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.
QQQ vs SPEU Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF (SPEU) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while SPEU returned +10.15%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 3.51% for SPEU.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +26.18% per year against +17.28% for SPEU; over five years the annualized figures are +15.42% and +8.05% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +15.40% annualized vs +3.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 18.1% for SPEU. 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 -53.5% for QQQ and -64.5% for SPEU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPEU charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $7 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 3.59% for SPEU.
Holdings Overlap
0.6% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPEU also owns. 0.2% of SPEU's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 1,632 in SPEU, against full books of 321 and 1,737.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 36 positions for SPEU that do not appear in our book for QQQ (7.1% of the fund), and 92 for QQQ that do not appear in SPEU (95.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and SPEU 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, QQQ or SPEU?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPEU charges 0.07%. SPEU is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPEU?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +10.15% for SPEU, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), QQQ annualized +15.40% vs +3.79% for SPEU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPEU?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 18.1% for SPEU. Worst drawdown: QQQ -53.5% vs SPEU -64.5%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPEU?
QQQ and SPEU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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, QQQ or SPEU?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SPEU yields 3.59%, so SPEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPEU better than QQQ?
SPEU has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.