BBAX vs SPY
JPMorgan BetaBuilders Developed Asia Pacific ex-Japan ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BBAX or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%.
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 | BBAX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.53% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 102 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.16%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +19.75% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.30% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.93% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,980 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 7, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 8, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.1 years).
BBAX 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 8.1 years both funds cover.
BBAX vs SPY Performance
JPMorgan BetaBuilders Developed Asia Pacific ex-Japan ETF (BBAX) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BBAX returned +19.75% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BBAX is up 16.16% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BBAX compounded at +16.30% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.93% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.12% annualized vs +6.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BBAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 16.8% 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 -39.6% for BBAX 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBAX charges 0.19% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $9 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBAX currently yields 3.53% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 91 holdings in BBAX and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.6% and 100.0% 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 91 positions we hold weights for in BBAX and 503 in SPY, against full books of 102 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BBAX (99.4% of the fund), and 3 for BBAX that do not appear in SPY (3.7%).
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 BBAX 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, BBAX or SPY?
BBAX has an expense ratio of 0.19% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBAX or SPY?
Over the past year BBAX returned +19.75% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), BBAX annualized +6.24% vs +14.12% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBAX or SPY?
BBAX has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 16.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BBAX -39.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BBAX and SPY?
BBAX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, BBAX or SPY?
BBAX yields 3.53% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BBAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BBAX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.