QQEW vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
QQEW and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. QQEW is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ-100 Equal Weighted Index. It was launched on Apr 19, 2006. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both QQEW and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: QQEW or SPY.
Key characteristics
| QQEW | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 4.61% | 18.86% |
| 1Y Return | 16.06% | 28.13% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 2.59% | 9.87% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 13.35% | 15.23% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 12.32% | 12.80% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.03 | 2.21 |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.22% | 12.60% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.16% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -4.20% | -0.61% |
Correlation
The correlation between QQEW and SPY is 0.89, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
QQEW vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, QQEW achieves a 4.61% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 18.86% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with QQEW having a 12.32% annualized return and SPY not far ahead at 12.80%. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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QQEW vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
QQEW has a 0.58% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
QQEW vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
QQEW vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
QQEW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.75%, less than SPY's 0.94% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QQEW First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund | 0.75% | 0.70% | 0.66% | 0.24% | 0.34% | 0.48% | 0.56% | 0.48% | 0.73% | 0.61% | 1.05% | 0.46% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0.94% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
QQEW vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum QQEW drawdown since its inception was -58.16%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for QQEW and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
QQEW vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Nasdaq-100 Equal Weighted Index Fund (QQEW) has a higher volatility of 4.56% compared to SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 3.84%. This indicates that QQEW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.