Head-to-head · ETF vs ETF
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF vs Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1
ETF·NYSE
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF XLK
$168.91
▼ 1.15%
47 / 100 AI score
vs
XLK vs QQQ: the verdict
How XLK and QQQ compare today, and what CleaRank Financial AI makes of it.
The verdict
CleaRank Financial AI favours
QQQ
XLK
QQQ
47/100
AI score
49/100
+14.3%
1-year change
+8.3%
45.1%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
35.8%
36.3
RSI (14-day)
40.1
The verdict
Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 (QQQ) comes out ahead on CleaRank's model, scoring 49/100 (Hold) against 47/100 (Hold) for State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK). The widest gap is momentum, where XLK is weaker: the 14-day RSI of 36.3 is in the bearish zone and the MACD line is negative.
Outlook
XLK would need to regain its 50-day average at $187.80 and its 200-day at $170.44 to turn its downtrend. QQQ would need to regain its 50-day average at $719.39 and its 200-day at $681.42 to turn its downtrend.
Price, side by side
Both prices start at 0% on the first day of the period you pick, so the moves compare directly.
Rebased price
-15%-10%-5%0%-10%-15%
Nov '26
-10%-5%0%+5%+10%-6.1%-9.2%
Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-10%-5%0%+5%+10%+15%-3.6%-4.6%
Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
-10%0%+10%+20%+30%+40%+14%+8.3%
Dec '25Feb '26Apr '26Jul '26Sep '26Nov '26
0%+50%+100%+61%+46%
Oct '24Mar '25Aug '25Jan '26Jun '26Nov '26
Over 1 year: XLK gained 14.3% and QQQ gained 8.3%, a gap of 6.0 points in XLK's favour.
Key metrics
Size and recent performance for each.
Size and market performance
XLK
QQQ
$127.3B
Size (net assets / market cap)
$498.9B
10.4M
Volume (shares, last session)
451.6M
55%
Position in 52-week range
58%
-10.1%
Price against 50-day average
-6.2%
Reading
XLK is the cheaper fund to hold. Its expense ratio is 0.08%, while QQQ's is 0.18%. On a $10,000 holding, that works out to $8.00 a year for XLK and $18.00 for QQQ. QQQ is the larger of the two, with $498.9B in net assets against $127.3B for XLK.
Momentum and sentiment
The indicators behind each AI score, side by side.
Indicators side by side
XLK
QQQ
47/100
AI score
49/100
36.3
RSI (14-day)
40.1
-10.1%
Price against 50-day average
-6.2%
-0.9%
Price against 200-day average
-1.0%
Technicals
XLK is in a downtrend, trading 10.06% below its 50-day average and 0.90% below its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 36.3, in the bearish zone, with the MACD line negative. QQQ is in a downtrend, trading 6.20% below its 50-day average and 0.97% below its 200-day average. Its 14-day RSI is 40.1, in the neutral zone, with the MACD line negative. QQQ sits higher in its 52-week range, at 58% against 55% for XLK.
Sentiment
XLK fell 15.03% over the past month and fell 9.23% over three months. QQQ fell 10.18% over the past month and fell 6.07% over three months.
Risk and practical tips
How much each moves, how much return each has paid for that risk, and what to watch if you hold either.
Risk measures
XLK
QQQ
45.1%
Volatility (30d, yearly)
35.8%
0.77
Sharpe ratio
0.69
Risk
XLK typically moves more in a day, 2.34% against 1.86% for QQQ. Their worst falls in the price history were 33.1% for XLK (December 2021 to October 2022) and 34.6% for QQQ. XLK typically moves more in a day; on the other measures we track the two are close.
ProTips
- For XLK, watch the 200-day SMA at $170.44 above the price and the 52-week low at $126.68 below it.
- For QQQ, watch the 200-day SMA at $681.42 above the price and the 52-week low at $555.60 below it.
- Costs compound: XLK charges $8.00 a year on $10,000 and QQQ $18.00.
XLK vs QQQ: long-term scenarios
Simulated paths from each price history. A range of outcomes, not a forecast.
Simulated growth of $10,000
$20K$40K$60K$65.3K$57.2K$24.6K$23.8K
202620282030203220342035
XLK
QQQ
$9,279
Downside, 2035 (10th)
$9,916
$24,618
Base case, 2035 (median)
$23,820
$65,316
Upside, 2035 (90th)
$57,218
In the median simulated path, $10,000 in XLK grows to about $24,600 and $10,000 in QQQ grows to about $23,800 by 2035. The paths come from each asset's own volatility and capped historical trend; they are statistical outcomes, not forecasts. XLK and QQQ's upside columns reach an extreme multiple of the starting amount; treat them as a statistical tail, not a likely outcome.
XLK vs QQQ: questions people ask
Answered from the figures on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, XLK or QQQ?+
Under CleaRank's model QQQ earns the higher score, 49/100 (Hold), while XLK sits at 47/100 (Hold). The figures describe this page's data and do not amount to a personal recommendation.
Which has performed better over the past year, XLK or QQQ?+
XLK has done better: its price rose 14.31% over the past year, while QQQ rose 8.28%.
Which is cheaper to own, XLK or QQQ?+
Holding costs less in XLK, whose expense ratio is 0.08%, compared with 0.18% for QQQ.
Which pays more income, XLK or QQQ?+
XLK pays the higher yield, at 0.43% against 0.42% for QQQ. Yield is the payout divided by the price, so it moves whenever either of those does.
Which is riskier, XLK or QQQ?+
XLK is the one that typically swings more in a single day, with an typical daily move of 2.34% against 1.86% for QQQ. The other measures we track put the two close together. Measured as the worst fall in the price history, XLK dropped 33.1% and QQQ dropped 34.6%.
Which has stronger momentum right now, XLK or QQQ?+
QQQ has the higher 14-day RSI, 40.1 (neutral) against 36.3 (bearish) for XLK. Both MACD lines are negative. Readings above 70 or below 30 mark stretched momentum.
Which fund is larger, XLK or QQQ?+
QQQ is the bigger fund, with $498.9B in net assets versus $127.3B for XLK.
How would $10,000 have grown in XLK or QQQ?+
Invested in December 2016, $10,000 would be worth $88,555 today in XLK and $62,620 in QQQ.
Which is closer to its 52-week high, XLK or QQQ?+
QQQ is closer: it trades 11.54% below its 52-week high of $762.86, against 16.90% below $203.25 for XLK.