AIS vs SPY
VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AIS or SPY?
AIS has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AIS led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%.
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 | AIS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $938M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 68 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +92.50%Best | +13.51% |
| 1Y Return | +119.48%Best | +18.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 49.2% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.4% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $30,092Best | $13,016 |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.5% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | VistaShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 1, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (1.8 years).
AIS 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 covers the 1.8 years both funds cover.
AIS vs SPY Performance
VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS) is an ETF from VistaShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AIS returned +119.48% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, AIS is up 92.50% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 49.2% compared with 12.6% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -34.4% for AIS and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIS charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIS currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
40.8% of AIS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.2% of SPY's money is in holdings AIS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 68 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 479 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AIS (82.2% of the fund), and 11 for AIS that do not appear in SPY (15.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AIS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.21% | 8.01% | 5.80% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 7.31% | 1.60% | 5.71% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.86% | 1.14% | 3.72% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 3.66% | 0.28% | 3.38% |
| VRTVertiv Holdings Co | 3.57% | 0.15% | 3.42% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.99% | 0.67% | 2.32% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.77% | 2.66% | 1.89% |
| GEVGe Vernova, Inc. | 2.75% | 0.37% | 2.38% |
| STXSeagate Technology Holdings Plc | 2.49% | 0.28% | 2.21% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc. | 1.97% | 0.30% | 1.67% |
40.8% of AIS is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AIS or SPY?
AIS has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIS or SPY?
Over the past year AIS returned +119.48% vs +18.19% for SPY, so AIS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AIS annualized +84.42% vs +15.77% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIS or SPY?
AIS has been the more volatile fund at 49.2% annualized versus 12.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AIS -34.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both AIS and SPY?
AIS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AIS and SPY?
40.8% of AIS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.2% of SPY's is in holdings AIS also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIS or SPY?
AIS yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AIS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AIS led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.