QQXT vs SPY
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QQXT or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. QQXT is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | QQXT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $132M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.33% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 110 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -0.39% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.77% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.36% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.43% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.5% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,837 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.9%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 8, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.7 years).
QQXT vs SPY 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
QQXT vs SPY Performance
First Trust NASDAQ-100 Ex-Technology Sector Index Fund (QQXT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QQXT returned +0.77% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, QQXT is down 0.39% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, QQXT compounded at +7.36% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.43% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.26% annualized vs +8.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQXT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.4% 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 -57.5% for QQXT and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQXT charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQXT currently yields 1.33% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.7% of QQXT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.8% of SPY's money is in holdings QQXT also owns.
Most of QQXT is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
45 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in QQXT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 110 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 450 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QQXT (87.3% of the fund), and 5 for QQXT that do not appear in SPY (11.7%).
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 QQXT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.90% | 3.78% | 1.88% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.97% | 1.54% | 0.43% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.95% | 0.73% | 1.22% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.99% | 0.66% | 1.33% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 2.32% | 0.10% | 2.22% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 2.04% | 0.20% | 1.84% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 2.12% | 0.11% | 2.01% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 1.94% | 0.28% | 1.66% |
| MARMarriott International, Inc. | 2.06% | 0.11% | 1.95% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.84% | 0.31% | 1.53% |
82.7% of QQXT is already inside SPY.
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, QQXT or SPY?
QQXT has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQXT or SPY?
Over the past year QQXT returned +0.77% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), QQXT annualized +8.68% vs +9.26% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQXT or SPY?
QQXT has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: QQXT -57.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both QQXT and SPY?
QQXT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 QQXT and SPY?
82.7% of QQXT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.8% of SPY's is in holdings QQXT also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in QQXT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, QQXT or SPY?
QQXT yields 1.33% while SPY yields 0.99%, so QQXT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QQXT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. QQXT is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.