QQQ vs XLBI
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 vs State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF
Which is better, QQQ or XLBI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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 | QQQ | XLBI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $506.1B | $8M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 15.33% |
| Holdings | 321 | 3 |
| YTD Return | +19.30%Best | +7.02% |
| 1Y Return | +22.47%Best | +10.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.42% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.0% | -10.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,889Best | $11,236 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 1999 | Jul 29, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).
QQQ vs XLBI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
QQQ vs XLBI Performance
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street Materials Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLBI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% while XLBI returned +10.17%. Year to date, QQQ is up 19.30% versus a gain of 7.02% for XLBI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 12.5% for XLBI. 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 -12.0% for QQQ and -10.6% for XLBI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.13. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQQ charges 0.18% per year while XLBI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $35 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQQ currently yields 0.42% against 15.33% for XLBI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in QQQ and 2 in XLBI, totalling 99.6% and 100.1% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in QQQ and 2 in XLBI, against full books of 321 and 3.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQQ and XLBI 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 XLBI?
QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while XLBI charges 0.35%. QQQ is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQQ or XLBI?
Over the past year QQQ returned +22.47% vs +10.17% for XLBI, so QQQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QQQ annualized +23.55% vs +10.20% for XLBI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQQ or XLBI?
QQQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 12.5% for XLBI. Worst drawdown: QQQ -12.0% vs XLBI -10.6%.
Should I hold both QQQ and XLBI?
QQQ and XLBI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.13, 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 XLBI?
QQQ yields 0.42% while XLBI yields 15.33%, so XLBI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLBI better than QQQ?
QQQ has a lower expense ratio. QQQ 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.