ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

ZSP-U.TO (BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD)) and XQQU.TO (iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - ZSP-U.TO is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while XQQU.TO is a Nasdaq-100 fund tracking the NASDAQ-100 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, ZSP-U.TO returned 27.09% vs 40.13% for XQQU.TO. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure. ZSP-U.TO charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.39%/yr for XQQU.TO.

Performance

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD) (ZSP-U.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

ZSP-U.TO is traded in USD, while XQQU.TO is traded in CAD. To make them comparable, the XQQU.TO values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ZSP-U.TO achieves a 11.01% return, which is significantly lower than XQQU.TO's 20.46% return.

ZSP-U.TO

• 1D: 0.39%
• 1M: 4.68%
• YTD: 11.01%
• 6M: 10.70%
• 1Y: 27.09%
• 3Y*: 21.71%
• 5Y*: 13.16%
• 10Y*: 14.74%

XQQU.TO

• 1D: -0.74%
• 1M: 8.58%
• YTD: 20.46%
• 6M: 19.23%
• 1Y: 40.13%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
ZSP-U.TO BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD)	11.01%	16.84%	23.97%	7.00%
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	20.46%	20.69%	25.32%	9.32%

Correlation

The correlation between ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO is 0.91, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.91
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 14, 2023	0.87

The correlation between ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.91 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO — Risk / Return Rank

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

ZSP-U.TO

ZSP-U.TO Risk / Return Rank: 69
ZSP-U.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
ZSP-U.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 70
ZSP-U.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 71
ZSP-U.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
ZSP-U.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 74

XQQU.TO

XQQU.TO Risk / Return Rank: 76
XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 84
XQQU.TO Sortino Ratio Rank: 81
XQQU.TO Omega Ratio Rank: 80
XQQU.TO Calmar Ratio Rank: 72
XQQU.TO Martin Ratio Rank: 63

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.

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD) (ZSP-U.TO) and iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO). 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.

	ZSP-U.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.30	2.50	-0.21
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.14	3.30	-0.16
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.42	1.43	-0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.96	3.43	-0.46
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	13.80	13.20	+0.59
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ZSP-U.TO Sharpe Ratio is 2.30, which is comparable to the XQQU.TO Sharpe Ratio of 2.50. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO, 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

	ZSP-U.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.30	2.50	-0.21
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.79	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.86	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.93	1.49	-0.56

Drawdowns

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ZSP-U.TO drawdown since its inception was -33.72%, which is greater than XQQU.TO's maximum drawdown of -22.84%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO.

Drawdown Indicators

	ZSP-U.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.72%	-22.84%	-10.88%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.18%	-11.76%	+2.58%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-18.77%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.88%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-33.72%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.23%	-0.74%	+0.51%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.95%	-3.09%	-0.86%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.97%	3.05%	-1.08%

Volatility

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD) (ZSP-U.TO) is 2.99%, while iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (XQQU.TO) has a volatility of 4.57%. This indicates that ZSP-U.TO experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XQQU.TO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ZSP-U.TO	XQQU.TO	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.99%	4.57%	-1.58%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.19%	12.28%	-3.09%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	11.85%	16.11%	-4.26%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.79%	20.26%	-3.47%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.78%	20.26%	-2.48%

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Expense Ratio Comparison

ZSP-U.TO has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than XQQU.TO's 0.39% expense ratio.

Dividends

ZSP-U.TO vs. XQQU.TO - Dividend Comparison

ZSP-U.TO has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XQQU.TO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.21%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
XQQU.TO iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF	0.21%	0.26%	0.20%	0.10%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
ZSP-U.TO BMO S&P 500 Index ETF (USD)	0.00%	0.14%	0.71%	0.98%	1.13%	0.91%	1.02%	1.07%	1.26%	1.22%	1.43%	1.29%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.91, ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO 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 ETF is better, ZSP-U.TO or XQQU.TO?

On fees, ZSP-U.TO is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ZSP-U.TO or XQQU.TO?

ZSP-U.TO is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.39% for XQQU.TO.

What is the main difference between ZSP-U.TO and XQQU.TO?

ZSP-U.TO is categorized as S&P 500, while XQQU.TO is Nasdaq-100. ZSP-U.TO tracks S&P 500 Index, while XQQU.TO tracks NASDAQ-100 Index. They also come from different issuers: BMO and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for ZSP-U.TO and 0.39% for XQQU.TO.