AMLP vs SPY
Alerian MLP ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AMLP or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 92.2%.
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 | AMLP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $13.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.28% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 15 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.91%Best | +13.81% |
| 1Y Return | +24.91%Best | +16.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.19% | +22.84%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.93%Best | +13.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.3% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -85.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,811Best | $18,836 |
| Top 10 Weight | 92.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 25, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2010 to Sep 22, 2026 (16.1 years).
AMLP 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
AMLP vs SPY Performance
Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AMLP returned +24.91% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, AMLP is up 19.91% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, AMLP compounded at +17.19% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +19.93% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.69% annualized vs +0.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AMLP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.3% compared with 14.2% 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 -85.4% for AMLP and -34.1% 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AMLP charges 1.01% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $9 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AMLP currently yields 7.28% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 14 holdings in AMLP and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 14 positions we hold weights for in AMLP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 15 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 14 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 497 positions AMLP does not, 99.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AMLP 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, AMLP or SPY?
AMLP has an expense ratio of 1.01% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AMLP or SPY?
Over the past year AMLP returned +24.91% vs +16.94% for SPY, so AMLP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), AMLP annualized +0.82% vs +13.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AMLP or SPY?
AMLP has been the more volatile fund at 25.3% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AMLP -85.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AMLP and SPY?
AMLP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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, AMLP or SPY?
AMLP yields 7.28% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AMLP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AMLP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 92.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.