SPY vs SPYQ
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Tradr 2X Long SPY Quarterly ETF
Which is better, SPY or SPYQ?
Large Cap Blend against Leverage Strategy.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPYQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00.
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 | SPYQ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.00% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $12M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.14% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 9 |
| YTD Return | +13.53% | +19.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.47% | +26.06%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 25.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -35.9% |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $13,771 | $15,763Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Tradr ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Leverage Strategy |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 30, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2 years).
SPY vs SPYQ 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 years both funds cover.
SPY vs SPYQ Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Tradr 2X Long SPY Quarterly ETF (SPYQ) is an ETF from Tradr ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while SPYQ returned +26.06%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 19.99% for SPYQ.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPYQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.0% compared with 12.5% 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 -35.9% for SPYQ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SPYQ charges 1.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $100 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 0.14% for SPYQ.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in SPYQ, totalling 99.8% and 54.8% 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 1 in SPYQ, against full books of 1,515 and 9.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and SPYQ 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 SPYQ?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPYQ charges 1.00%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or SPYQ?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +26.06% for SPYQ, so SPYQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +17.35% vs +25.55% for SPYQ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or SPYQ?
SPYQ has been the more volatile fund at 25.0% annualized versus 12.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs SPYQ -35.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and SPYQ?
SPY and SPYQ have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SPYQ?
SPY yields 0.99% while SPYQ yields 0.14%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYQ better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPYQ led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.