QQQ vs SPYG
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF
Which is better, QQQ or SPYG?
Nearly the same fund. SPYG costs less.
SPYG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPYG over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%.
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 | SPYG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $498.6B | $56.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 0.48% |
| Holdings | 321 | 150 |
| YTD Return | +21.69%Best | +17.66% |
| 1Y Return | +24.10%Best | +20.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.05% | +27.85%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.31%Best | +14.92% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.1% | 17.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.4% | -69.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,286Best | $20,044 |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2%Best | 59.8% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Sep 25, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2000 to Oct 13, 2026 (26 years).
QQQ vs SPYG 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 26 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs SPYG Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +24.10% while SPYG returned +20.31%. Year to date, QQQ is up 21.69% versus a gain of 17.66% for SPYG.
Over three years, QQQ compounded at +27.05% per year against +27.85% for SPYG; over five years the annualized figures are +16.31% and +14.92% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, QQQ has the edge at +8.65% annualized vs +6.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.1% compared with 17.6% for SPYG. 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 -77.4% for QQQ and -69.7% for SPYG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while SPYG charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $4 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 0.48% for SPYG.
Holdings Overlap
73.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPYG also owns. 73.2% of SPYG's money is in holdings QQQ also owns.
Most of QQQ is already inside SPYG. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
47 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 149 in SPYG, against full books of 321 and 150.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 101 positions for SPYG that do not appear in our book for QQQ (26.7% of the fund), and 49 for QQQ that do not appear in SPYG (24.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in QQQ | Weight in SPYG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.45% | 14.72% | 6.27% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.88% | 10.25% | 4.37% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.80% | 6.79% | 1.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.15% | 5.52% | 2.37% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.41% | 3.71% | 0.70% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.85% | 3.06% | 1.79% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.74% | 4.77% | 2.03% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.93% | 4.41% | 1.48% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.07% | 3.96% | 0.89% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.71% | 2.34% | 1.37% |
73.5% of QQQ is already inside SPYG.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, QQQ or SPYG?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPYG charges 0.04%. SPYG is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or SPYG?
Over the past year QQQ returned +24.10% vs +20.31% for SPYG, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), QQQ annualized +8.65% vs +6.69% for SPYG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or SPYG?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 22.1% annualized versus 17.6% for SPYG. Worst drawdown: QQQ -77.4% vs SPYG -69.7%.
Should I hold both QQQ and SPYG?
QQQ and SPYG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between QQQ and SPYG?
73.5% of QQQ's money is in holdings SPYG also owns. 73.2% of SPYG's is in holdings QQQ also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 149 in SPYG.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQQ or SPYG?
QQQ yields 0.42% while SPYG yields 0.48%, so SPYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYG better than QQQ?
SPYG has a lower expense ratio. QQQ led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, SPYG over 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. QQQ is less concentrated, with 47.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.