XLKI vs. QQQ

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

XLKI (State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF) and QQQ (Invesco QQQ ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XLKI is a Technology Equities fund actively managed by State Street, while QQQ is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. XLKI is actively managed, while QQQ is passively managed. Over the past year, XLKI returned 26.30% vs 27.00% for QQQ. Their correlation of 0.94 means they have usually moved in the same direction. XLKI charges 0.35%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for QQQ.

Performance

XLKI vs. QQQ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLKI) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XLKI achieves a 12.19% return, which is significantly lower than QQQ's 14.23% return.

XLKI

• 1D: 1.38%
• 1M: 0.31%
• 6M: 9.72%
• YTD: 12.19%
• 1Y: 26.30%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 23.17%

QQQ

• 1D: 1.76%
• 1M: -1.76%
• 6M: 12.07%
• YTD: 14.23%
• 1Y: 27.00%
• 3Y*: 24.17%
• 5Y*: 14.45%
• 10Y*: 20.46%
• ALL TIME*: 10.70%

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

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF	$31.40B	$28.17B	$31.69B
XLKI State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF	$526.89K	$421.64K	$346.32K

XLKI vs. QQQ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
XLKI State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF	12.19%	10.02%
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF	14.23%	8.56%

Correlation

The correlation between XLKI and QQQ is 0.93, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.93
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 30, 2025	0.94

The correlation between XLKI and QQQ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.93 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.

XLKI vs. QQQ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	XLKI	QQQ
Financial Services	99.9%	0.2%
Technology	99.2%	60.9%
Communication Services	0.8%	13.1%
Basic Materials	-	1.0%
Consumer Cyclical	-	10.7%
Consumer Defensive	-	6.3%
Energy	-	0.5%
Healthcare	-	3.6%
Industrials	-	2.7%
Real Estate	-	0.1%
Utilities	-	1.1%

Return for Risk

XLKI vs. QQQ — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

XLKI

XLKI Risk / Return Rank: 57
XLKI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 52
XLKI Sortino Ratio Rank: 50
XLKI Omega Ratio Rank: 53
XLKI Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
XLKI Martin Ratio Rank: 66

QQQ

QQQ Risk / Return Rank: 58
QQQ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 58
QQQ Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
QQQ Omega Ratio Rank: 55
QQQ Calmar Ratio Rank: 64
QQQ Martin Ratio Rank: 59

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

XLKI vs. QQQ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLKI) and Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	XLKI	QQQ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.33	1.40	-0.08
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.84	1.95	-0.11
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.25	1.25	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.36	2.27	+0.09
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.25	7.21	+1.04

XLKI vs. QQQ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XLKI Sharpe Ratio is 1.33, which is comparable to the QQQ Sharpe Ratio of 1.40. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XLKI and QQQ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

XLKI vs. QQQ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XLKI drawdown since its inception was -11.21%, smaller than the maximum QQQ drawdown of -82.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XLKI and QQQ.

Drawdown Indicators

	XLKI	QQQ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-11.21%	-82.97%	+71.76%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.21%	-11.96%	+0.75%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-22.77%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-35.12%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-35.12%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-5.44%	-6.07%	+0.63%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.17%	-32.61%	+30.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.20%	3.76%	-0.56%

Volatility

XLKI vs. QQQ - Volatility Comparison

State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLKI) has a higher volatility of 8.46% compared to Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ) at 6.96%. This indicates that XLKI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than QQQ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XLKI	QQQ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.46%	6.96%	+1.50%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.52%	16.12%	+1.40%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.95%	19.37%	+0.58%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.92%	22.92%	-3.00%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.92%	22.51%	-2.59%

XLKI vs. QQQ - Expense Ratio Comparison

XLKI has a 0.35% expense ratio, which is higher than QQQ's 0.18% expense ratio.

Dividends

XLKI vs. QQQ - Dividend Comparison

XLKI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 19.68%, more than QQQ's 0.43% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
QQQ Invesco QQQ ETF	0.43%	0.45%	0.56%	0.62%	0.80%	0.43%	0.55%	0.74%	0.91%	0.84%	1.06%	0.99%
XLKI State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF	19.68%	8.52%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XLKI and QQQ in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.93, XLKI and QQQ move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, XLKI or QQQ?

XLKI has higher volatility (8.46%) compared to QQQ (6.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, XLKI dropped -11.21% vs QQQ's -82.97%.

Which ETF is better, XLKI or QQQ?

On 1-year performance, QQQ leads with 27.00% vs 26.30% for XLKI. On fees, QQQ is cheaper at 0.18% per year. On volatility, QQQ has been the lower-risk option at 6.96%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, XLKI or QQQ?

Over the 1-year period, QQQ has performed better with a 27.00% return vs 26.30%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, XLKI or QQQ?

QQQ is cheaper with a 0.18% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for XLKI.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, XLKI or QQQ?

XLKI has the higher dividend yield at 19.68%, compared with 0.43% for QQQ.

What is the main difference between XLKI and QQQ?

XLKI is categorized as Technology Equities, while QQQ is Nasdaq-100. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.35% for XLKI and 0.18% for QQQ.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

QQQ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.40 vs 1.33), 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.