the gap between themQQQ ahead by $1,436
SPY solid · QQQ dashed · weekly closes, dividends reinvested
SPY wins 3 of 4. Which matters depends on what you need it for.
- Grew more over five yearsSPY +84% · QQQ +99%
QQQ
- Fell less at its worstSPY −24% · QQQ −35%
SPY
- Calmer rideSPY 16% vol · QQQ 21% vol
- Cheaper to holdSPY 0.09% a year · QQQ 0.18% a year
move together · correlation 0.95
Side by side, line by line
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | $761.69 | $721.45 |
| Fund size | $811.94B | $488.98B |
| 1-year return | +16.0% | +21.0% (ahead) |
| 3-year return, a year | +21.2% | +25.6% (ahead) |
| 5-year return, a year | +13.0% | +14.7% (ahead) |
| Volatility, a year | 16% (ahead) | 21% |
| Worst drawdown | −24% (ahead) | −35% |
| Worst week | −9.1% (ahead)Mar 2025 | −9.9%Mar 2025 |
| Beta | 1.00 | 1.26 |
| Dividend yield | 0.98% | 0.42% |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% (ahead) | 0.18% |
Do SPY and QQQ move together?
Correlation compares SPY’s and QQQ’s weekly returns from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Two holdings near +1 fall on the same weeks, so owning both doesn’t cushion anything. Your portfolio has more than two lines, and Portfolio Terminal runs this check across every pair you hold.
How far each one fell
SPY
−24%
From its Dec 2021 high to Sep 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
QQQ
−35%
From its Nov 2021 high to Oct 2022. Back at that high by Dec 2023.
Worst peak-to-trough fall on weekly closes · dividends reinvested
How much of it is the same money
SPY vs QQQ: what people ask
Is SPY better than QQQ?
Over the past five years, QQQ delivered the higher return: +14.7% a year against +13.0% for SPY, dividends reinvested. It also fell further at its worst (−35% against −24%), so the extra return came with a rougher ride. Which is better depends on the job it does in your portfolio, and past returns don’t predict future ones.
What is the difference between SPY and QQQ?
SPY is SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, a fund with $811.94B in assets. QQQ is Invesco QQQ Trust, a fund with $488.98B in assets. SPY charges 0.09% a year and QQQ 0.18%. Counting only each fund’s ten largest positions, 36% of their money sits in the same companies.
Should I own both SPY and QQQ?
Their weekly returns had a correlation of 0.95 over the past five years. Most weeks they go the same way. Owning both spreads company risk, not market risk. Whether that suits you depends on everything else you hold, which is the check Portfolio Terminal runs across a whole portfolio.
Which is riskier, SPY or QQQ?
QQQ swung more: 21% annual volatility against 16% for SPY. At their worst, SPY fell 24% and QQQ 35% from a previous high. Against the broad market, their betas are 1.00 and 1.26.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or QQQ?
SPY currently yields 0.98%, against 0.42% for QQQ. Yields move with price, so a higher yield can also mean a falling price.
Which is cheaper to hold, SPY or QQQ?
SPY charges 0.09% a year and QQQ 0.18%. On $10,000, that is $8.55 a year in favor of SPY.
Compare something else
Any two stocks or ETFs. Keep SPY or swap both.
Returns use weekly closes adjusted for dividends and splits, from Sep 2021 to Sep 2026. Quotes, fees and holdings come from public market data and refresh hourly. This page describes what happened; it is not investment advice, and past performance doesn’t predict future returns.