SPMO vs QQQM: Which ETF Is Better for Long-Term Investors?

SPMO vs QQQM is one of the most-searched ETF matchups of 2026, and it’s easy to see why. SPMO, Invesco’s S&P 500 momentum fund, has returned about 39% a year over the past three years. That has left QQQM, the low-cost Nasdaq-100 fund many of us treat as our “growth engine,” well behind.

But here’s the part most comparisons leave out. If you stretch the data back to late 2015, the two funds finish almost neck and neck, and QQQM’s index actually came out ahead in most three-year periods. So which one deserves a place in a long-term portfolio?

In this guide, we’ll break down how each ETF works, what it owns right now, and how it has performed across very different markets. We’ll also look at the risks the headline numbers hide. We end with a simple decision framework, not a one-size-fits-all verdict.

Disclosure: This article is educational and is not personalized financial advice. Some links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Key Takeaways

• Different bets: QQQM owns the 100 biggest non-financial Nasdaq companies by size. SPMO owns the roughly 100 S&P 500 stocks with the strongest, steadiest 12-month price gains, and reshuffles every six months.

• Recent winner — SPMO: 39.3% vs 28.1% a year over 3 years, and 21.6% vs 16.3% over 5 years (to Sep 30, 2026; our calculation).

• Long-run tie: over 10 years, the Nasdaq-100 fund returned 20.9% a year vs SPMO’s 20.2%. SPMO beat it in only about 35% of rolling 3-year periods since 2015.

• Momentum cuts both ways: SPMO lost far less in 2022 (−10.6% vs −32.6%) but lagged by 37 points in 2023 and fell harder in the July 2026 reversal.

• Less overlap than you think: about 23 shared stocks and ~39% shared weight. SPMO currently holds no Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon or Meta.

• Neither is an income fund: yields are 0.73% (SPMO) and 0.43% (QQQM). For most value- or dividend-focused investors, both fit better as satellites than as the core.

SPMO vs QQQM at a Glance (October 2026)

Short answer: SPMO is a cheaper, higher-turnover momentum strategy drawn from the S&P 500. QQQM is a low-turnover, size-weighted Nasdaq-100 fund. Both are tech-heavy today, but for very different reasons.

FeatureSPMOQQQM
Full nameInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETFInvesco NASDAQ 100 ETF
IndexS&P 500 Momentum IndexNasdaq-100 Index
StrategyMomentum factor tiltModified market-cap weighting
LaunchedOct 9, 2015Oct 13, 2020
Expense ratio0.13%0.15%
Assets (approx.)US$23 billionUS$110 billion
Holdings~100~100 (can exceed 100 temporarily)
Top-10 weight51.3%~47%
Information Technology54.2%58.3%
Dividend yield (TTM)0.73%0.43%
Trailing P/E~28~32
Portfolio turnoverHigh (44%–72%)Very low (~6%)
RebalancingTwice a year (Mar & Sep)Quarterly + annual reconstitution + Fast Entry

Sources: Invesco, StockAnalysis, Alpha Vantage, Invesco SPMO prospectus. Data as of Oct 6–10, 2026. Turnover range reflects different reporting periods.

What Is QQQM?

QQQM (Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF) is a low-cost ETF that tracks the Nasdaq-100 Index: about 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange, weighted mostly by company size. It charges 0.15% a year and is the buy-and-hold sibling of the famous QQQ.

In practice, QQQM is a bet on America’s biggest innovation companies. Its top holdings as of early October 2026 are Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Micron, AMD and Amazon. Because the weighting follows size, the biggest companies stay the biggest holdings in good times and bad.

How the Nasdaq-100 Picks and Weights Stocks

  • Who qualifies: companies primarily listed on Nasdaq. Financials are excluded, so there are no banks or insurers, and REITs are excluded too.
  • Weighting: modified market cap. Bigger companies get bigger weights, with caps applied.
  • Concentration caps: no single company can exceed 24% (cut to 20%). If companies above 4.5% together reach 48%, that group is trimmed to 40%.
  • Schedule: quarterly rebalances plus an annual reconstitution in December.

Read the full rules in the Nasdaq-100 methodology.

What Changed in 2026: Fast Entry and SpaceX

On May 1, 2026, Nasdaq introduced its biggest rule changes in years (2026 FAQ):

  • Fast Entry: a huge new listing that ranks in the top 40 can join after about 15 trading days instead of waiting months.
  • Low-float cap: a company’s weight is capped at three times its publicly traded float.
  • Quarterly rank reviews in March, June and September.

The first big test was SpaceX (SPCX). It listed on June 12, 2026 and joined the Nasdaq-100 on July 7. Its weight then rose from 1.28% to 2.82% at the September 21 rebalance, and QQQM now holds about 2.9%. SpaceX is not in the S&P 500, so SPMO cannot own it. That is a small but real structural difference.

What Is SPMO?

SPMO (Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF) is a factor ETF that tracks the S&P 500 Momentum Index. It holds roughly the top 20% of S&P 500 stocks with the strongest risk-adjusted 12-month price gains, weighted by size and momentum score, and rebalances every March and September. Its expense ratio is 0.13%.

Think of it this way. QQQM buys the biggest shops in the mall. SPMO buys the shops with the longest queues this year, then checks the queues again every six months.

Momentum is not the same as growth. SPMO doesn’t care whether a company is a tech darling or an oil major. If its stock has been rising steadily, it gets in. That’s why SPMO currently holds Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil and Merck, which QQQM will never own.

How the S&P 500 Momentum Index Picks Stocks

  1. Start with the S&P 500. Only current members are eligible.
  2. Measure 12-month returns, skipping the most recent month. Very short-term moves tend to reverse, so the last month is ignored.
  3. Adjust for risk. Each return is divided by the stock’s volatility, so a steady climber beats a jumpy one with the same gain.
  4. Pick the top ~20% (about 100 stocks), with a buffer that reduces unnecessary trading.
  5. Weight by market cap × momentum score, capped at 9% per company and 3× the stock’s normal S&P weight.

Since September 18, 2026, the 9% cap applies per company, so Alphabet’s two share classes count together (S&P DJI methodology).

The September 2026 Rebalance: Nvidia Out, Apple In

This is the part that surprises new SPMO owners. At the September 2026 reconstitution, the index made 54 changes, replacing more than half of its holdings:

ChangeDetails
RemovedNvidia, Broadcom (despite Nvidia gaining 30%+ over the prior year)
AddedApple (entered as the largest weight), Merck, UnitedHealth, Dell, Marvell, Lumentum, Valero, Marathon Petroleum
MicronCut from 10.94% to 8.95%, but still a top holding
Sector shiftsSemiconductors −13.0 pts; tech hardware +12.1 pts; health care +3.6 pts; energy +2.4 pts

Source: Seoul Economic Daily / Kiwoom Asset Management (fund on the same index), Sep 21, 2026.

Why it matters: with SPMO, you’re not buying a fixed basket of stocks. You’re buying a process, and every six months that process can produce a very different portfolio. If you want a steady set of holdings, that’s a drawback. If you want a fund that adapts on its own, it’s the whole point.

SPMO vs QQQM Performance: It Depends on When You Start

Short answer: SPMO has clearly beaten QQQM over the last 1, 3 and 5 years. Over 10 years, the Nasdaq-100 fund is slightly ahead, and the “winner” flips depending on your start date.

Methods note: QQQM only launched in October 2020, so for longer periods we use QQQ, which tracks the same index at a slightly higher fee, as a stand-in. Returns are total returns from Alpha Vantage monthly adjusted prices, ending Sep 30, 2026 unless noted. These are our calculations, not official fund figures.

Trailing Returns (Annualized)

PeriodSPMOQQQ (QQQM proxy)S&P 500 (SPY)
1 year26.3%23.8%15.7%
3 years39.3%28.1%22.8%
5 years21.6%16.3%13.7%
10 years20.2%20.9%15.2%
Since QQQM launch (Oct 2020)22.8%19.3%17.0%
2026 year-to-date (to Oct 9)27.4%22.7%15.1%

Our calculation; Alpha Vantage data. Periods end Sep 30, 2026 unless stated.

In dollar terms, US$10,000 invested at the end of November 2015 would have grown to about US$70,300 in QQQ, US$65,400 in SPMO and US$43,700 in the S&P 500. Both crushed the market. The difference between them is much smaller than recent headlines suggest.

Calendar-Year Returns, 2016–2026

YearSPMOQQQS&P 500Winner
20165.4%7.1%12.0%QQQ
201727.9%32.7%21.7%QQQ
2018−0.2%−0.1%−4.6%Tie
201926.0%39.0%31.2%QQQ
202028.2%48.6%18.4%QQQ
202122.7%27.4%28.7%QQQ
2022−10.6%−32.6%−18.2%SPMO
202317.6%54.9%26.2%QQQ
202445.8%25.6%24.9%SPMO
202526.6%20.8%17.7%SPMO
2026 YTD27.4%22.7%15.1%SPMO

SPMO 2016–2023: official NAV returns from Invesco’s prospectus. Other figures: our calculation from adjusted prices. 2026 to Oct 9.

Notice the pattern: QQQ won six of the first seven years. SPMO has won every year since 2024. A comparison that starts in 2020 or later tells only half the story.

Rolling Returns: Why the Start Date Changes the Answer

A rolling return checks every possible holding period of a given length, not just one. This is the fairest way to compare funds, because it doesn’t depend on a lucky (or unlucky) start date.

Holding periodPeriods testedSPMO beat QQQSPMO beat S&P 500
12 months11949%—
3 years9535%72%
5 years7130%86%

Our calculation, monthly data Nov 2015–Sep 2026.

The story here is clear. SPMO has been a very reliable way to beat the S&P 500, but not a reliable way to beat the Nasdaq-100. Three-year periods ending around 2021 favored QQQ by up to 12.7 points a year. Periods ending in mid-2026 favored SPMO by up to 17 points a year.

Want to check this yourself? A charting platform like TradingView lets you plot SPMO and QQQM side by side and compare performance over any start date you choose. It’s a great way to see the “start-date problem” with your own eyes.

Test the “Start-Date Problem” Yourself

Start in 2020 and SPMO looks unbeatable. Start in 2016 and QQQ comes out ahead. Plot SPMO and QQQM on one chart, switch to percentage view, and move the start date. You’ll see how quickly the “winner” changes, and you won’t have to rely on anyone’s cherry-picked chart.

Compare SPMO vs QQQM on TradingView →

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

How Each ETF Behaved in Different Market Regimes

Market regimeWhat happenedBetter performer
2019–2020: Big Tech leadershipMega-cap tech surged; momentum laggedQQQ (by 13–20 pts a year)
2022: Rising rates, tech crashSPMO had rotated into energy/defensivesSPMO (−10.6% vs −32.6%)
2023: Sharp tech reboundMomentum still held 2022’s winnersQQQ (54.9% vs 17.6%)
2024–H1 2026: AI hardware boomSPMO concentrated in AI semis & memorySPMO
July 2026: momentum reversalChip stocks sold off after a hawkish Fed holdQQQ (−6.6% vs −11.0% in July)

Our calculation; regime descriptions from Axios, NorthCoast Asset Management and S&P DJI.

The lesson: momentum works best when trends last, and worst at sharp turning points. In 2023 the market snapped back hard, and SPMO was still holding 2022’s defensive winners. It took until the next rebalance to catch up.

Risk Comparison: Volatility, Drawdowns, and Momentum Reversals

Short answer: over the full period, SPMO has been slightly less volatile than QQQ and fell less in the 2022 bear market. Over the last three years, though, it has been the more volatile fund, because it concentrated heavily in AI chip stocks.

Risk metric (monthly data)SPMOQQQS&P 500
Volatility, Nov 2015–Sep 202617.5%18.7%15.0%
Volatility, last 3 years20.8%17.3%12.4%
Beta to S&P 500, last 3 years1.411.261.00
Worst drawdown, 2022 (daily data)−21.5%−34.7%—
2025 tariff shock (daily data)−20.0%−22.7%—
Downside capture vs S&P 500 (full period)80%103%100%

Our calculation (monthly); daily drawdowns from Trefis, Oct 2026. Month-end figures understate intramonth lows.

The July 2026 Momentum Reversal

After a record run, including the S&P 500 Momentum Index’s best month since 1994 in April 2026, momentum stocks stumbled in July. The Fed held rates at 3.50–3.75%, with three officials wanting a hike, and bond yields jumped. Chip names like Micron, AMD and Nvidia sold off (Axios). For more background, see our analysis of the July 2026 AI chip selloff.

SPMO fell 11.0% that month, while QQQ fell 6.6% and the S&P 500 was flat. As of October 9, SPMO was still about 6.5% below its June 22 peak, while QQQM was within about 1% of its high. This is what momentum crash risk looks like in real life. It’s usually not a catastrophe, but it is a sharp, sudden period of underperformance.

What the research says about momentum crashes

Academic studies (e.g., Daniel & Moskowitz, 2016) show momentum strategies suffer rare but severe crashes, usually right after a bear market ends and beaten-down stocks rebound. SPMO is long-only, so it doesn’t suffer the extreme losses of hedge-fund-style momentum. Its “crash” tends to show up as lagging badly at turning points, like 2023.

Is SPMO Just a Tech Fund in Disguise?

Not always, but lately, yes. We ran a simple statistical test comparing SPMO’s monthly returns with the S&P 500 and with the “extra” return of the Nasdaq-100 over the S&P 500.

  • 2016–2020: SPMO behaved like the S&P 500 with only a modest tech tilt.
  • Last 3 years: SPMO behaved like the S&P 500 plus more than a full Nasdaq-style tech tilt, with extra on top. That extra came from its heavy bets on memory and chip stocks.

In other words, SPMO’s character changes with the market. Today it is an AI-hardware fund with a side of health care and energy. In two years, it could look completely different.

Holdings and Overlap: What You Actually Own

Top 10 Holdings Side by Side

#SPMOWeightQQQMWeight
1Micron9.28%Nvidia8.46%
2Apple9.23%Apple7.26%
3AMD5.74%Microsoft5.81%
4Intel4.97%Micron5.01%
5Alphabet (Class A)4.89%AMD4.30%
6Johnson & Johnson4.39%Amazon4.14%
7Alphabet (Class C)3.93%Meta Platforms3.17%
8ExxonMobil3.16%Alphabet (Class A)3.04%
9Lam Research2.93%SpaceX2.93%
10Applied Materials2.78%Tesla2.93%

Source: StockAnalysis. SPMO as of Oct 8, 2026; QQQM as of Oct 6, 2026. Weights drift daily.

Micron sits near the top of both funds, so it helps to understand why Micron’s HBM memory business is booming. And if you’re wondering why SPMO dropped Nvidia while QQQM keeps it as its #1 holding, our explainer on AI stock rotation between Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom covers the shift in leadership.

Sector Breakdown

SectorSPMOQQQM
Information Technology54.2%58.3%
Health Care10.6%3.6%
Communication Services8.7%15.4%
Industrials7.6%2.7%
Financials6.1%0.2%
Energy5.6%0.4%
Consumer Staples2.5%5.4%
Consumer Discretionary1.8%9.5%
Other0.7%2.0%

Source: Alpha Vantage, Oct 9, 2026.

How Much Do SPMO and QQQM Overlap?

About 23 stocks and roughly 39% of portfolio weight, as of early October 2026 (our calculation). Both funds are heavy in Apple, Alphabet, Micron, AMD, Intel and chip-equipment makers. Beyond that, they diverge:

  • Only in QQQM: Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Tesla, Broadcom, SpaceX, Costco, Netflix.
  • Only in SPMO: Johnson & Johnson, ExxonMobil, Merck, Caterpillar, UnitedHealth, Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs.

One more surprise: despite holding about 100 stocks each, both funds are concentrated. By a measure called the effective number of stocks (how many equal-sized positions would give the same concentration), SPMO behaves like a ~27-stock portfolio and QQQM like a ~31-stock portfolio.

Fees, Dividends, and Valuation

Costs and Turnover

SPMO is slightly cheaper (0.13% vs 0.15%), which works out to US$13 vs US$15 a year per US$10,000. That gap is tiny. The bigger difference is turnover: SPMO replaces a large part of its portfolio every year (44%–72% depending on the reporting period), while QQQM’s turnover is around 6%.

Thanks to the ETF structure, neither fund has typically paid capital-gains distributions. For non-US investors, US capital gains on ETFs generally aren’t taxed by the US anyway. The main cost of high turnover is trading friction inside the fund, which shows up in tracking.

Dividend Yield: Why Neither Is an Income Fund

SPMOQQQM
Trailing 12-month yield0.73%0.43%
Payout frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly

Source: StockAnalysis, Oct 10, 2026.

If you’re a dividend investor, be honest about what these funds are: total-return growth funds. Dividends make up well under 1% of their annual return. If income is your goal, a dedicated dividend ETF or dividend stocks will do that job better.

Valuation Check

As of October 10, 2026, SPMO traded at roughly 25–28× trailing earnings and QQQM at roughly 30–32× (StockAnalysis, Trefis). The S&P 500 was around 27× in late July. With the 10-year US Treasury yield at 5.24% (October 9, 2026), high-multiple growth stocks face a real headwind if rates stay elevated. That applies to both funds, and slightly more to QQQM.

Note: forward P/E estimates for these funds vary widely between data providers, so we’ve stuck to trailing figures.

Pros and Cons of SPMO and QQQM

SPMOQQQM
Pros• Strong 3- and 5-year record• Adapts to new market leaders• Can own energy, health care and banks• Held up far better in 2022• Slightly cheaper (0.13%)• Simple, transparent, low turnover• Owns the biggest innovators through thick and thin• Slightly better 10-year record• Gets mega-IPOs like SpaceX early• Huge, liquid fund
Cons• Lags badly at market turning points• Holdings can change by half every six months• Recent gains concentrated in AI chips• Performance-chasing risk after a hot run• Heavy in big tech and communications• No financials, little energy or health care• Higher valuation• Fell 32.6% in 2022

How to Use SPMO and QQQM in a Long-Term Portfolio

Core vs Satellite

A core holding is the steady, diversified base of your portfolio. A satellite is a smaller position that adds a specific tilt. For most long-term investors, especially value- and dividend-minded ones, neither SPMO nor QQQM makes an ideal core. Both are concentrated and both are about 55% technology.

A broad S&P 500 or total-market fund makes a more natural core, and either ETF can serve as the satellite.

Should You Hold Both?

Holding both adds less diversification than it seems. Their monthly returns have been highly correlated: 0.83 since 2015 and 0.92 over the last three years. You would mostly be doubling up on Apple, Alphabet, Micron and the chipmakers. If you want two growth tilts, choose them deliberately and keep the combined size modest.

Sample Allocations (Illustrative Only)

Investor typeExample mixReasoning
Steady compounder70% S&P 500 index / 20% QQQM / 10% SPMOBroad core; small growth and momentum tilts
Dividend-focused60% dividend ETF or dividend stocks / 30% S&P 500 / 10% SPMO or QQQMIncome first; small growth satellite
Growth-oriented50% S&P 500 / 30% QQQM / 20% SPMOHigher growth tilt, accepts concentration

Examples are educational, not recommendations. Match any allocation to your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance.

SPMO vs QQQM: Which Should You Choose? (Decision Framework)

There’s no universal winner. Use this framework to match the fund to your temperament and portfolio role.

Choose SPMO if…

• You want a rules-based fund that automatically shifts toward whatever is leading the market, tech or not.

• You can tolerate sudden periods of underperformance (like 2023 or July 2026) without selling.

• You’re comfortable with holdings that change significantly every March and September.

• You’ll use it as a satellite next to a broad core.

Choose QQQM if…

• You believe large US tech and innovation companies will keep out-earning the market over the next decade.

• You prefer a simple, low-turnover fund whose holdings you can predict.

• You want exposure to mega-cap leaders and big new listings like SpaceX, even through drawdowns.

• You can handle bigger losses in rate shocks (QQQ fell 32.6% in 2022).

Choose neither (as a core) if…

• Your priority is dividend income or capital preservation.

• You already hold a lot of big tech through an S&P 500 fund, and adding more would over-concentrate you.

• You’re likely to buy because of recent returns and sell during the next reversal.

Frequently Asked Questions About SPMO vs QQQM

Is SPMO better than QQQM?

Over the last 3–5 years, yes. SPMO returned 39.3% a year over 3 years to September 30, 2026, vs 28.1% for the Nasdaq-100. Over 10 years, the Nasdaq-100 fund was slightly ahead (20.9% vs 20.2%), and SPMO won only about 35% of rolling 3-year periods. “Better” depends on the period you measure.

Do SPMO and QQQM overlap?

Partly. As of early October 2026 they share about 23 stocks and roughly 39% of portfolio weight, mainly Apple, Alphabet, Micron, AMD, Intel and chip-equipment makers. QQQM holds Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta, which SPMO currently doesn’t. SPMO holds health care, energy and bank stocks that QQQM can’t own.

How often does SPMO rebalance?

Twice a year, effective after the third Friday of March and September. The changes can be large: the September 2026 rebalance made 54 changes, removing Nvidia and Broadcom and adding Apple, Merck and UnitedHealth.

Does SPMO pay dividends?

Yes, quarterly, but the yield is small: about 0.73% over the trailing 12 months as of October 2026. QQQM yields about 0.43%. Neither is designed for income, so dividend investors should treat both as growth holdings.

Is momentum investing risky?

It carries a specific risk: sharp reversals when market leadership suddenly changes. SPMO fell 11% in July 2026 while the S&P 500 was flat, and it lagged the Nasdaq-100 by 37 points in 2023. Over long periods, though, it has beaten the S&P 500 in most 3- and 5-year windows.

Should I hold both SPMO and QQQM?

You can, but it adds less diversification than you might expect. Their returns were 0.92 correlated over the last three years, and they share many top holdings. Many investors instead pair one of them with a broad S&P 500 or dividend fund.

Is QQQM the same as QQQ?

They track the same Nasdaq-100 index. QQQM charges 0.15% vs QQQ’s 0.18% and has a lower share price, which makes it better suited to long-term buy-and-hold investors. QQQ is much larger and has a deeper options market, which matters mainly to traders.

Final Verdict: SPMO vs QQQM for Long-Term Investors

In the SPMO vs QQQM debate, the honest answer is that both are excellent, low-cost growth tools, and neither is a guaranteed winner. SPMO’s recent dominance is real, but it came from a period that suited momentum: long, persistent trends in AI hardware. Over the full 11-year record, QQQ was slightly ahead and won most three-year windows.

For value- and dividend-minded investors like many of our readers, the practical approach is to build a broad, diversified core first. Then add SPMO, QQQM, or a small slice of each as a satellite, sized so that a 20–35% drop in that slice wouldn’t derail your plan.

If you’re choosing just one: pick QQQM if you want simplicity and conviction in big tech, and SPMO if you want an adaptive, rules-based tilt and have the discipline to sit through its rough patches.

Know What You Own Before the Next Rebalance

SPMO can swap half its holdings every March and September, and QQQM’s top 10 shifts as Nvidia, Micron and SpaceX move. Before you buy either one, it pays to keep an eye on:

  • How both ETFs perform against the S&P 500 over different start dates
  • The top holdings driving each fund, especially Micron, Apple and AMD
  • Drawdowns during momentum reversals like July 2026
Build Your SPMO & QQQM Watchlist on TradingView →

Affiliate link. Investing involves risk. This article is educational and does not constitute financial advice.


Promotion
TradingView

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.