SPY vs QQQ — 25-Year Performance Comparison
S&P 500 vs Nasdaq 100 — backtested 2000–2024
QQQ wins$66,328 vs $62,946 on $10,000 over 25 years
SPYS&P 500
Final value$62,946
CAGR+7.6%
Max drawdown-37.6%
Best year+32% (2013)
Years won10 of 25
QQQNasdaq 100
Final value$66,328
CAGR+7.9%
Max drawdown-73.4%
Best year+55% (2023)
Years won15 of 25
Growth of $10,000
2000–2024SPYQQQ
SPY$62,946
QQQ$66,328
50/50 mix$68,805
50/50 blend: $68,805 (+8.0%/yr CAGR)
Splitting equally between SPY and QQQ would have outperformed both individually — diversification smoothed the ride. Try a custom split →
Year-by-year: SPY vs QQQ
| Year | SPY | QQQ | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | +23.3% | +25.6% | QQQ |
| 2023 | +26.3% | +54.9% | QQQ |
| 2022 | -18.2% | -32.6% | SPY |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +27.4% | SPY |
| 2020 | +18.4% | +48.6% | QQQ |
| 2019 | +31.5% | +39.0% | QQQ |
| 2018 | -4.4% | -0.1% | QQQ |
| 2017 | +21.8% | +32.7% | QQQ |
| 2016 | +12.0% | +7.1% | SPY |
| 2015 | +1.4% | +9.4% | QQQ |
| 2014 | +13.7% | +19.2% | QQQ |
| 2013 | +32.4% | +36.6% | QQQ |
| 2012 | +16.0% | +18.1% | QQQ |
| 2011 | +2.1% | +3.0% | QQQ |
| 2010 | +15.1% | +20.0% | QQQ |
| 2009 | +26.5% | +54.7% | QQQ |
| 2008 | -37.0% | -41.7% | SPY |
| 2007 | +5.5% | +19.7% | QQQ |
| 2006 | +15.8% | +7.0% | SPY |
| 2005 | +4.9% | +2.2% | SPY |
| 2004 | +10.9% | +10.4% | SPY |
| 2003 | +28.7% | +50.3% | QQQ |
| 2002 | -22.1% | -37.6% | SPY |
| 2001 | -11.9% | -32.6% | SPY |
| 2000 | -9.1% | -36.8% | SPY |
More comparisons
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