GET DAILY SIGNALSQQQM vs SPUS: Weighing Two Tech-Heavy ETFs for Growth Portfolios
Key Takeaways
- QQQM tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index of the largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq, while SPUS tracks a Sharia-compliant version of the S&P 500 that screens out conventional finance, aerospace and defense, and interest-based businesses.
- Both funds are heavily concentrated in mega-cap technology, but QQQM is the lower-cost vehicle at a 0.15% expense ratio versus SPUS's 0.45%.
- QQQM's top 10 holdings represent roughly 46% of assets; SPUS is more concentrated still, with its top 10 near 57% and its largest position, NVDA, above 13%.
- SPUS adds meaningful health care and energy exposure that QQQM largely lacks, producing a different sector profile despite similar technology leadership.
- Tickeron AI Verdict: QQQM is the favored ticker, based on lower cost, broader diversification, and deeper liquidity.
Why Compare QQQM and SPUS?
Investors seeking concentrated exposure to America's largest growth companies often land on QQQM and SPUS. The two funds are not identical competitors: QQQM is a broad, low-cost NASDAQ-100 tracker, while SPUS applies a Sharia (Islamic law that governs permissible investing) screen to the S&P 500, excluding interest-based financials, defense, alcohol, gambling, and similar industries. Yet both end up heavily weighted toward the same mega-cap technology leaders, making them alternative paths toward a similar goal. Comparing their sector exposure, cost structure, and relative positioning helps clarify which vehicle better fits a growth-oriented portfolio in the current market environment. I also checked this using Tickeron’s AI Screener to see how the holdings align across sectors.
A Closer Look at QQQM
The Invesco NASDAQ 100 ETF is a passively managed fund that seeks to track the NASDAQ-100 Index, a modified market-capitalization-weighted benchmark of the 100 largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq exchange. Because the index excludes financial firms, the fund holds no traditional banks or financial institutions. QQQM generally holds about 100 securities, with its top 10 positions accounting for roughly 46% of assets.
Top holdings include NVIDIA (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), Broadcom (AVGO), Meta Platforms (META), and Alphabet (GOOGL). Information Technology is the dominant sector at roughly 50–60% of the portfolio, followed by Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary. The fund charges a 0.15% expense ratio (the annual fee as a percentage of assets) and was launched in 2020 as a lower-cost, buy-and-hold sibling to the older Invesco QQQ Trust. QQQM is among the most liquid and largest growth ETFs in the market.
A Closer Look at SPUS
The SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions ETF is a passively managed, values-screened fund that tracks the S&P 500 Sharia Industry Exclusions Index. The index starts from the S&P 500 universe and removes companies deemed non-compliant with Islamic investment principles, notably conventional financial institutions, aerospace and defense, financial exchanges and data, and data-processing businesses. SPUS holds roughly 215 constituents and is classified as non-diversified, meaning it can concentrate more weight in a small number of issuers.
Top holdings include NVIDIA (NVDA) at about 13%, Apple (AAPL), Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Broadcom (AVGO), Micron (MU), Tesla (TSLA), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Eli Lilly (LLY), and ExxonMobil (XOM). Information Technology dominates at about 58–60% of assets, but Health Care accounts for roughly 11–12%, with smaller allocations to Consumer Discretionary, Industrials, Energy, and Materials. SPUS carries a 0.45% expense ratio and was launched in December 2019.
The AI and Tech Landscape
Both ETFs sit at the center of the artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor investment cycle. Demand for AI infrastructure, data-center computing, and advanced chips has concentrated market leadership in a narrow group of mega-cap technology names that dominate both funds. This concentration has driven strong index performance but also heightens sensitivity to earnings surprises, valuation resets, and changes in interest-rate expectations. Broader macro drivers, including Federal Reserve policy, capital expenditure trends among cloud providers, and regulatory scrutiny of large technology platforms, continue to shape the environment. Sector-specific risks include cyclical semiconductor demand, elevated valuations, and the potential for rotation away from growth stocks if rates stay higher for longer. From what I see, these dynamics make careful comparison essential.
How They Stack Up
In recent weeks and recent market cycles, both QQQM and SPUS have moved in close alignment with the mega-cap technology complex, reflecting their shared top holdings. QQQM has benefited from its slightly broader roster and lower concentration, while SPUS has shown greater sensitivity to the fortunes of NVIDIA and the semiconductor group given its higher single-stock weights. SPUS's inclusion of health care and energy names has provided a modest cushion during periods of defensive or value rotation, whereas QQQM's heavier tilt toward Communication Services and Consumer Discretionary ties it more directly to growth momentum. In terms of relative positioning, QQQM offers deeper trading liquidity and lower costs, while SPUS provides a faith-based, non-diversified exposure profile with different sector characteristics. Neither fund is a low-volatility product; both carry elevated concentration risk tied to a handful of dominant issuers.
Using Tickeron’s AI Tools in My Research
I often rely on Tickeron’s AI Screener when comparing ETFs like these. It helps filter based on technical patterns, fundamentals, and performance metrics so I can quickly surface relevant data and confirm how holdings stack up across sectors. This approach keeps my analysis efficient without replacing my own judgment on costs, liquidity, and risk.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Based on observable structural factors, Tickeron's AI would currently favor QQQM over SPUS. QQQM offers a materially lower expense ratio (0.15% versus 0.45%), a less concentrated top-10 profile, and substantially deeper liquidity, all of which support cost-efficient, lower-friction exposure to the same technology leadership. While SPUS is a compelling choice for Sharia-conscious investors seeking broad large-cap access with added health care and energy exposure, its higher concentration and non-diversified structure introduce additional single-issuer risk. For a general growth-oriented investor, QQQM's combination of trend consistency, diversification, and cost efficiency gives it the probabilistic edge in this head-to-head comparison.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Contributor
Sergey Savastiouk, Ph.D. has a degree in Applied Mathematics from Moscow University and has extensive experience as an entrepreneur, investor, manager, and mathematician. His professional expertise is in applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, system and pattern analysis, and software and hardware system integration. He has served as the CEO of several hi-tech start-up companies and nonprofit organizations, which has given him proven capabilities in business strategy for high-tech start-up companies, market assessment, company formation, team building, product development, marketing, and sales. He has published numerous articles in journals and magazines on related fields. As a retail investor, he spent 15 years developing his proprietary trading and quantitative algorithms (now Tickeron’s A.I.), which brought him significant returns in trading the stock market. His current work and goal in founding Tickeron is to bring professional, sophisticated stock market analysis capabilities to retail investors via an easy-to-use interface.
SPUS in upward trend: price may ascend as a result of having broken its lower Bollinger Band on October 16, 2026
SPUS may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options. In 31 of 34 cases where SPUS's price broke its lower Bollinger Band, its price rose further in the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 90%.
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
Following a +1.37% 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where SPUS advanced for three days, in 292 of 342 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are 85%.
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In 337 of 372 cases where SPUS Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are 90%.
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for SPUS moved out of overbought territory on October 08, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 50 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In 42 of the 50 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at 84%.
The Stochastic Oscillator may be shifting from an upward trend to a downward trend. In 50 of 69 cases where SPUS's Stochastic Oscillator exited the overbought zone, the price fell further within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 72%.
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on October 30, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on SPUS as a result. In 65 of 84 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 77%.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for SPUS turned negative on October 14, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 52 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In 40 of the 52 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at 77%.
SPUS moved below its 50-day moving average on October 30, 2026 date and that indicates a change from an upward trend to a downward trend.
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where SPUS declined for three days, the price rose further in 50 of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are 79%.
Notable companies
Industry description
Market Cap
High and low price notable news
Volume
Fundamental Analysis Ratings
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Advertisement
General Information
Category LargeGrowth
Advertisement