SPY vs QQQ: Dividend Yield, Total Return & Fees Compared
SPDR S&P 500 ETF TrustInvesco QQQ Trust ETF
Data as of the close · refreshed automatically every trading day
SPY vs QQQ at a glance
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (QQQ) are compared below using data through the September 25, 2026 close, refreshed after every trading day.
Over the past year, QQQ returned +26.02% with dividends reinvested, compared with +18.48% for SPY. SPY currently yields 0.98% (trailing 12-month) against 0.42% for QQQ. Across five years the total-return gap is +105.44% for QQQ vs +85.81% for SPY.
The higher-yielding fund (SPY) 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.
| Metric | SPY | QQQ |
|---|---|---|
| Last close | $771.35 | $744.50 |
| Dividend yield | 0.98% (TTM) | 0.42% (TTM) |
| Expense ratio | 0.09% | 0.20% |
| Pays | quarterly | quarterly |
| Dividends, last 12 months | $7.58 (4 payments) | $3.09 (4 payments) |
| Issuer | SPDR | Invesco |
| Inception | Jan 23, 1993 | Mar 11, 1999 |
Performance: SPY vs QQQ
Total return assumes every distribution is reinvested. Switch to price return to see the change in share price alone.
Total Return (%) · dividends reinvested · Sep 25, 2025 – Sep 25, 2026
Overview
Key fund stats as of the latest close.
Total returns
Price change plus dividends paid, by holding period. Best in each period is outlined.
Recent dividend payments
The latest 12 distributions per share for each fund, newest first.
| SPY | QQQ | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | $1.89 | Sep 21, 2026 | $0.751 |
| Jun 18, 2026 | $1.90 | Jun 22, 2026 | $0.813 |
| Mar 20, 2026 | $1.80 | Mar 23, 2026 | $0.733 |
| Dec 19, 2025 | $1.99 | Dec 22, 2025 | $0.794 |
| Sep 19, 2025 | $1.83 | Sep 22, 2025 | $0.694 |
| Jun 20, 2025 | $1.76 | Jun 23, 2025 | $0.591 |
| Mar 21, 2025 | $1.70 | Mar 24, 2025 | $0.716 |
| Dec 20, 2024 | $1.97 | Dec 23, 2024 | $0.835 |
| Sep 20, 2024 | $1.75 | Sep 23, 2024 | $0.677 |
| Jun 21, 2024 | $1.76 | Jun 24, 2024 | $0.762 |
| Mar 15, 2024 | $1.60 | Mar 18, 2024 | $0.573 |
| Dec 15, 2023 | $1.91 | Dec 27, 2023 | $0.216 |
SPY vs QQQ: common questions
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or QQQ?
As of September 25, 2026, SPY yields 0.98% (trailing 12-month) and QQQ yields 0.42% (trailing 12-month), so SPY currently pays the higher yield. A higher yield does not guarantee a higher total return.
Which has performed better, SPY or QQQ?
Over the past year with dividends reinvested, SPY returned +18.48% and QQQ returned +26.02%. Over five years, SPY returned +85.81% and QQQ returned +105.44%. Past performance does not predict future results.
What would $10,000 in SPY vs QQQ be worth after one year?
With dividends reinvested, $10,000 invested one year before September 25, 2026 would have grown to about $11,848 in SPY and $12,602 in QQQ.
Which is cheaper to own, SPY or QQQ?
SPY has the lower expense ratio at 0.09% a year, compared with 0.20% for QQQ. On $10,000 that is roughly $9 vs $20 a year.
How often do SPY and QQQ pay dividends?
SPY pays quarterly (4 payments in the last 12 months) and QQQ pays quarterly (4 payments).
Is SPY or QQQ the better investment?
It depends on your goals, time horizon and tax situation. Income-focused investors often weigh yield and payment frequency, while long-term investors usually compare total return and fees. Dividend Duel is an educational tool and does not provide investment advice.
Related comparisons
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Figures come from end-of-day prices and distributions and are recalculated after every trading session; see our methodology. This page is for education only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Read the full disclosure.