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ETF Comparison

QNDX vs QQQ: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of State Street SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF and Invesco QQQ Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 10, 2026

Best for

  • QNDXInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • QQQInvestors who want higher current income (0.44% while QNDX makes no distribution).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricQNDXQQQ
Full nameState Street SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETFInvesco QQQ Trust
IssuerState StreetInvesco
Last Close$24.49 as of August 10, 2026$723.03 as of August 10, 2026
Distribution yield—0.44%
Distribution Safety Score™ —97
Expense ratio0.10%0.18%
AUM$24.9M$479B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100 IndexNasdaq-100 Index
ObjectiveTrack the Nasdaq-100 Index at a low expense ratio for core large-cap growth equity exposure.Track the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date06/24/202603/10/1999
Beta—1.26
Last dividend—$0.7941
Ex-dividend date—12/21/2026

— Distribution yield, last dividend, and ex-dividend date are not yet available because QNDX launched June 2026; these fields will populate after the first distribution.

Bottom lineChoose QNDX if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose QQQ if you want higher current income (0.44% while QNDX makes no distribution).

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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

State Street
ETFs181
Total AUM$2127B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QNDX.

See all State Street ETFs
Invesco
ETFs251
Total AUM$982B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Invesco is a major ETF provider known for offering a comprehensive lineup spanning multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company specializes in income-focused products including dividend, covered call, and bond strategies, while also maintaining broad exposure across equity, factor-based, thematic, and ESG investing themes. Invesco's portfolio ranges from index-tracking funds to alternatives and specialized offerings like digital assets and BulletShares, making it one of the more expansive ETF families available to investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on QQQ.

See all Invesco ETFs

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

QNDX has lagged QQQ over the year to date, posting a 1.56% total return against 17.85%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTDSince Jun 2026
QNDX1.56%1.56%
QQQ17.85%1.44%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 10, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Jun 2026” measures every fund from June 24, 2026 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window.

Quick verdict

QNDX (State Street SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) are both quarterly-pay ETFs, but they take different approaches.

QQQ currently shows a 0.44% distribution yield. QNDX has not yet established a full distribution history, so a comparable yield figure is not available.

QNDX is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.10% compared to 0.18%.

QQQ has $479B in assets vs $24.9M for QNDX, but QNDX only launched June 2026 — AUM comparisons will become more meaningful as it builds a track record.

Who should choose each?

Choose QNDX

State Street SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF

  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.10% expense ratio vs 0.18% for QQQ.

Choose QQQ

Invesco QQQ Trust

  • Want higher current income — QQQ yields 0.44% while QNDX makes no distribution.
  • Want a growth tilt and can accept larger swings for more upside.
  • Prefer an established track record — QNDX only launched June 2026.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QNDX has no reported distribution yield yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available, while QQQ would produce $3.67/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

QNDX yield—
QQQ yield0.44%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QNDX would cost approximately $100 in fees vs $180 for QQQ (simplified, not compounded). The $80.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QNDX ER0.10%
QQQ ER0.18%

Strategy & risk

Both QNDX and QQQ wrap Nasdaq-100 Index with similar strategies (large cap and growth). The practical differences are yield target, fee structure, and issuer track record — not the underlying mechanic.

QNDX beta—
QQQ beta1.26

Fund details

QNDX is managed by State Street (launched 06/24/2026) with $24.9M in assets. QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $479B in assets.

QNDX AUM$24.9M
QQQ AUM$479B
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Frequently asked questions

Which of QNDX or QQQ pays more dividend income?

QQQ currently reports a distribution yield, while QNDX has not yet established a full distribution history. A direct income comparison is not yet meaningful — check back once both funds have published several consecutive distributions.

What is the difference between QNDX and QQQ?

Both QNDX (State Street SPDR Portfolio Nasdaq 100 ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) track Nasdaq-100 Index with similar approaches — the labels "large cap" and "growth" describe closely related mechanics. The real differences show up in yield target (— vs 0.44%), expense ratio (0.10% vs 0.18%), and issuer (State Street vs Invesco).

Can I hold both QNDX and QQQ?

You can, but expect significant overlap. Both funds use similar strategies on Nasdaq-100 Index, so holding them together gives you two wrappers around effectively the same exposure — not true diversification. Weigh issuer, fee, and yield differences rather than treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, QNDX or QQQ?

QNDX has an expense ratio of 0.10% while QQQ charges 0.18%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in QNDX vs QQQ generate?

At current rates, QNDX has not established a distribution history yet, so a monthly income estimate is not available. The same in QQQ would produce about $3.67 per month ($44.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QNDX or QQQ?

QNDX has lagged QQQ over the year to date, posting a 1.56% total return against 17.85%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

QNDX vs QQQ — at a glance

Generated August 8, 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

QNDX and QQQ are both ETFs tracking the identical Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. The key distinction is scale: QQQ is one of the oldest and largest equity ETFs in the world with $479B in AUM, while QNDX is a much smaller State Street alternative with $24.9M in AUM launched in 2026. Both charge minimal fees but QQQ carries a slightly higher expense ratio despite vastly larger assets.

How they differ

Both funds track the same benchmark, so their holdings and performance are essentially identical before fees. QQQ's expense ratio of 0.18% is 8 basis points higher than QNDX's 0.10%, a gap that compounds to a meaningful return drag over years but widens or narrows depending on which fund benefits from share-creation economics as assets move. QQQ's $479B asset base gives it far deeper liquidity and tighter bid-ask spreads, while QNDX's $24.9M in AUM is small enough that trading costs could meaningfully exceed its fee advantage in practice. QQQ has a 27-year track record and distributes 0.44% annually; QNDX's distribution rate is not specified, though both pay quarterly.

Who each is best for

QNDX: Fits investors evaluating index trackers on expense ratio alone and comfortable with potentially wider trading spreads or longer wait times for fills given the fund's modest asset base.

QQQ: Designed for core Nasdaq-100 exposure seekers who value deep liquidity, tight spreads, and 27 years of operating history, willing to accept 8 basis points annually in exchange for institutional-grade trading mechanics.

Key risks to know

  • Concentration in mega-cap tech. The Nasdaq-100 is heavily weighted toward a handful of semiconductor, AI, and software companies. A downturn in that cluster poses outsized downside risk to both funds.
  • Expense ratio tradeoff with liquidity. QNDX's lower fee advantage evaporates if trading friction—bid-ask spread, market-impact costs, or execution delays—exceeds 8 basis points per trade; QQQ's larger asset base subsidizes tighter spreads that can offset its higher stated fee for active traders.
  • Growth-factor cyclicality. Both funds carry a beta of 1.24 (QQQ; QNDX's beta is not reported), meaning they amplify broad market downturns and outperform in growth rallies. Valuations in large-cap growth are sensitive to interest-rate expectations, creating sustained drawdown risk in rising-rate environments.
  • Asset base divergence. QNDX's small AUM means it could face closures, forced mergers, or slow adoption if State Street deprioritizes the fund, leaving holders to migrate to another vehicle.

Bottom line

QQQ's liquidity advantage and operating history come at a modest cost; QNDX's fee savings are real but only meaningful if you trade rarely or in tiny size. If you prioritize the lowest stated fee and have sufficient patience with tighter spreads, QNDX appeals; if you need institutional-grade execution and institutional-grade comfort with scale, QQQ's additional 8 basis points is unlikely to be the limiting factor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

Dividend growth vs. high yield Yield on cost, explained How expense ratios eat returns

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