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ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of Invesco QQQ Trust and SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 7, 2026

Best for

  • QQQInvestors who want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside.
  • SPYMInvestors who want higher current income (1.06% vs 0.44% for QQQ).

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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.

ETFs180
Total AUM$2080B

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 SPYM.

Side-by-side snapshot

QQQSPYM
Full nameInvesco QQQ TrustSPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
IssuerInvescoState Street
Last Close$714.65 as of August 7, 2026$90.47 as of August 7, 2026
Distribution yield0.44%1.06%
Distribution Safety Score™ 97100
Expense ratio0.18%0.02%
AUM$479B$157B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexNasdaq-100 IndexS&P 500 Index
ObjectiveTrack the Nasdaq-100 Index, which includes 100 of the largest non-financial Nasdaq stocks.Tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing broad U.S. large-cap equity exposure at a low cost.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date03/10/199911/08/2005
Beta1.241.0
Last dividend$0.7941$0.2390
Ex-dividend date12/21/202606/12/2026

Bottom lineChoose QQQ if you want a growth tilt and can accept bigger swings for higher upside. Choose SPYM if you want higher current income (1.06% vs 0.44% for QQQ).

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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

QQQ has outpaced SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 28.17% total return against 23.82%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.71% a year, against 15.37% for SPYM. SPYM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.0% against 20.5% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Nov 2005Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
QQQ16.84%28.17%24.70%14.77%20.71%15.74%20.5%0.861.24-22.8%
SPYM13.13%23.82%21.07%13.31%15.37%11.34%15.0%0.981.41-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 6, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Nov 2005” measures every fund from November 15, 2005 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) and SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

SPYM offers the higher yield at 1.06% vs 0.44% for QQQ. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SPYM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.02% compared to 0.18%.

They track different benchmarks: QQQ is linked to Nasdaq-100 Index while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

QQQ is the larger fund by assets ($479B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, QQQ would generate roughly $3.67/month, while SPYM would produce $8.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

QQQ yield0.44%
SPYM yield1.06%
Monthly diff on $10K$5.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, QQQ would cost approximately $180 in fees vs $20 for SPYM (simplified, not compounded). The $160.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

QQQ ER0.18%
SPYM ER0.02%

Strategy & risk

QQQ tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 1.24 for QQQ and 1.0 for SPYM, indicating SPYM is less volatile relative to the market.

QQQ beta1.24
SPYM beta1.0

Fund details

QQQ is managed by Invesco (launched 03/10/1999) with $479B in assets. SPYM is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $157B in assets.

QQQ AUM$479B
SPYM AUM$157B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for QQQ and SPYM?

QQQ currently distributes 0.44% and SPYM 1.06%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is QQQ or SPYM better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. SPYM currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between QQQ and SPYM?

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks Nasdaq-100 Index with a growth approach, while SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by Invesco and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both QQQ and SPYM?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, QQQ or SPYM?

QQQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPYM charges 0.02%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in QQQ would generate roughly $3.67 per month ($44.00 annually). The same in SPYM would produce about $8.83 per month ($106.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, QQQ or SPYM?

QQQ has outpaced SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 28.17% total return against 23.82%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: QQQ has compounded at 20.71% a year, against 15.37% for SPYM. SPYM has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.0% against 20.5% for QQQ. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

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