ACEI vs SPY
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ACEI or SPY?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ACEI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.79% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 26 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.16% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.71% | +16.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 13.1% |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
ACEI vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
ACEI vs SPY Performance
Innovator Equity Autocallable Income Strategy ETF (ACEI) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ACEI returned +6.71% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, ACEI is up 7.16% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 10.7% for ACEI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACEI charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACEI currently yields 10.79% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACEI and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACEI or SPY?
ACEI has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACEI or SPY?
Over the past year ACEI returned +6.71% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACEI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 10.7% for ACEI.
Should I hold both ACEI and SPY?
ACEI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACEI or SPY?
ACEI yields 10.79% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ACEI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ACEI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.