SPHQ vs. PPA

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

SPHQ (Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF) and PPA (Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SPHQ is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Quality Index, while PPA is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the SPADE Defense Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SPHQ returned 15.01%/yr vs 17.38%/yr for PPA. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SPHQ charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.61%/yr for PPA.

Performance

SPHQ vs. PPA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SPHQ achieves a 15.48% return, which is significantly higher than PPA's 8.54% return. Over the past 10 years, SPHQ has underperformed PPA with an annualized return of 15.01%, while PPA has yielded a comparatively higher 17.38% annualized return.

SPHQ

• 1D: 0.28%
• 1M: 7.17%
• YTD: 15.48%
• 6M: 16.06%
• 1Y: 23.22%
• 3Y*: 22.41%
• 5Y*: 14.54%
• 10Y*: 15.01%

PPA

• 1D: -1.74%
• 1M: 3.19%
• YTD: 8.54%
• 6M: 13.46%
• 1Y: 26.57%
• 3Y*: 28.92%
• 5Y*: 17.82%
• 10Y*: 17.38%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

SPHQ vs. PPA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SPHQ Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF	15.48%	13.25%	25.44%	24.83%	-15.76%	28.03%	17.36%	33.64%	-7.10%	19.10%
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF	8.54%	37.15%	25.28%	18.41%	9.52%	7.09%	0.45%	39.63%	-7.51%	30.10%

Correlation

The correlation between SPHQ and PPA is 0.55, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.55
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.62
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.69
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.70
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 7, 2005	0.76

Over the past year, the correlation between SPHQ and PPA has dropped to 0.55 - well below their long-term average of 0.76, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

SPHQ vs. PPA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SPHQ	PPA
Technology	28.1%	9.8%
Industrials	24.3%	90.1%
Consumer Defensive	15.4%	-
Financial Services	13.3%	-
Healthcare	8.4%	-
Consumer Cyclical	4.6%	-
Basic Materials	2.2%	-
Communication Services	2.0%	0.1%
Utilities	1.0%	-
Energy	0.7%	-
Real Estate	-	-

Return for Risk

SPHQ vs. PPA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

SPHQ

SPHQ Risk / Return Rank: 54
SPHQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 53
SPHQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
SPHQ Omega Ratio Rank: 49
SPHQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 52
SPHQ Martin Ratio Rank: 61

PPA

PPA Risk / Return Rank: 37
PPA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
PPA Sortino Ratio Rank: 39
PPA Omega Ratio Rank: 35
PPA Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
PPA Martin Ratio Rank: 36

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

SPHQ vs. PPA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) and Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA). 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.

	SPHQ	PPA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.85	1.40	+0.45
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.69	2.05	+0.63
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.32	1.24	+0.08
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.62	1.95	+0.67
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.17	5.68	+5.48
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

SPHQ vs. PPA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SPHQ Sharpe Ratio is 1.85, which is higher than the PPA Sharpe Ratio of 1.40. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SPHQ and PPA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	SPHQ	PPA	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.85	1.40	+0.45
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.89	0.97	-0.08
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.84	0.84	0.00
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.53	0.66	-0.13

Drawdowns

SPHQ vs. PPA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SPHQ drawdown since its inception was -57.83%, roughly equal to the maximum PPA drawdown of -57.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPHQ and PPA.

Drawdown Indicators

	SPHQ	PPA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-57.83%	-57.37%	-0.46%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.90%	-13.71%	+4.81%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-16.57%	-15.24%	-1.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.04%	-18.37%	-6.67%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-31.60%	-43.92%	+12.32%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-8.40%	+8.40%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.70%	-9.18%	-1.52%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.08%	4.69%	-2.61%

Volatility

SPHQ vs. PPA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF (SPHQ) is 3.49%, while Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) has a volatility of 6.73%. This indicates that SPHQ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than PPA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SPHQ	PPA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.49%	6.73%	-3.24%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	10.18%	15.95%	-5.77%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.62%	19.03%	-6.41%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.45%	18.49%	-2.04%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.86%	20.64%	-2.78%

SPHQ vs. PPA - Expense Ratio Comparison

SPHQ has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than PPA's 0.61% expense ratio.

Dividends

SPHQ vs. PPA - Dividend Comparison

SPHQ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.04%, more than PPA's 0.39% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
PPA Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF	0.39%	0.42%	0.61%	0.67%	0.83%	0.59%	0.88%	0.95%	0.90%	0.67%	1.70%	1.41%
SPHQ Invesco S&P 500 Quality ETF	1.04%	1.09%	1.15%	1.42%	1.85%	1.19%	1.55%	1.51%	1.85%	1.57%	1.67%	2.29%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SPHQ and PPA in my portfolio?

SPHQ and PPA have a correlation of 0.55, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, SPHQ or PPA?

PPA has higher volatility (6.73%) compared to SPHQ (3.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPHQ dropped -57.83% vs PPA's -57.37%.

Which ETF is better, SPHQ or PPA?

On 10-year performance, PPA leads with 17.38% vs 15.01% for SPHQ. On fees, SPHQ is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, SPHQ has been the lower-risk option at 3.49%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SPHQ or PPA?

Over the 10-year period, PPA has performed better with a 17.38% return vs 15.01%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SPHQ or PPA?

SPHQ is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.61% for PPA.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SPHQ or PPA?

SPHQ has the higher dividend yield at 1.04%, compared with 0.39% for PPA.

What is the main difference between SPHQ and PPA?

SPHQ is categorized as S&P 500, while PPA is Industrials Equities. SPHQ tracks S&P 500 Quality Index, while PPA tracks SPADE Defense Index. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for SPHQ and 0.61% for PPA.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPHQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.85 vs 1.40), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.