AT vs SPY
Defiance Robotics Actuators ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AT or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%.
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 | AT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $777.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 58 | 1,011 |
| YTD Return | -5.74% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.74% | +12.45%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.45% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 170.1% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -86.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 16.9 years | $27,506 | $73,968Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.4% | 38.9%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 14, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 16.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2009 to Nov 11, 2026 (16.9 years).
AT 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 16.9 years both funds cover.
AT vs SPY Performance
Defiance Robotics Actuators ETF (AT) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AT returned -5.74% while SPY returned +12.45%. Year to date, AT is down 5.74% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 170.1% compared with 14.3% 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 -86.6% for AT 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 0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AT charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AT currently yields 0.00% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 24 holdings in AT and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.0% and 100.1% 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 24 positions we hold weights for in AT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 58 and 1,011.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 499 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AT (99.7% of the fund), and 6 for AT that do not appear in SPY (27.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AT 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, AT or SPY?
AT has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AT or SPY?
Over the past year AT returned -5.74% vs +12.45% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), AT annualized +6.17% vs +12.57% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AT or SPY?
AT has been the more volatile fund at 170.1% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AT -86.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AT and SPY?
AT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.02, 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, AT or SPY?
AT yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 61.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.