SPLG vs QQQ: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared

SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPLG) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) are compared below using data through the October 14, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.

Over the past year, QQQ returned +22.47% with dividends reinvested, compared with +17.53% for SPLG. SPLG currently yields 1.01% (trailing 12-month) against 0.42% for QQQ. Across five years the total-return gap is +104.83% for QQQ vs +86.62% for SPLG.

The higher-yielding fund (SPLG) has trailed on 1-year total return. Yield only measures the income a fund pays; total return also counts the change in share price, so it is the fuller basis for comparing the two.

Across 1,265 shared trading dates from September 30, 2021 to October 14, 2026, the largest observed peak-to-trough decline with dividends reinvested was -24.49% for SPLG and -35.12% for QQQ. These figures use the same available dates for both instruments, exclude intraday moves, and are not forecasts.

SPLG's recorded distributions over the 12 months ending October 14, 2026 ranged from $0.1941 to $0.2392 per share across 4 distribution dates. A payment range includes special distributions and does not establish the amount of a future payment.

QQQ's recorded distributions over the 12 months ending October 14, 2026 ranged from $0.7328 to $0.8135 per share across 4 distribution dates. A payment range includes special distributions and does not establish the amount of a future payment.

Fund expense ratios are annual operating costs, not a bill added to the historical returns shown here. Trading spreads, brokerage costs and personal taxes can reduce an investor's realized return.