BBC vs SPY
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BBC or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBC led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. BBC is less concentrated, with 12.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | BBC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $50M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 132 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +29.17%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +95.71%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +34.63%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.41% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.9% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,725 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.3%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 17, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (11.8 years).
BBC 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
BBC vs SPY Performance
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Clinical Trials ETF (BBC) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BBC returned +95.71% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, BBC is up 29.17% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, BBC compounded at +34.63% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.41% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.67% annualized vs +5.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BBC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.9% compared with 15.0% 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 -76.8% for BBC 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBC charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBC currently yields 1.24% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 130 holdings in BBC 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 130 positions we hold weights for in BBC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 132 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BBC (99.3% of the fund), and 118 for BBC that do not appear in SPY (89.6%).
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 BBC 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, BBC or SPY?
BBC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBC or SPY?
Over the past year BBC returned +95.71% vs +16.29% for SPY, so BBC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), BBC annualized +5.74% vs +12.67% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBC or SPY?
BBC has been the more volatile fund at 35.9% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BBC -76.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BBC and SPY?
BBC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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, BBC or SPY?
BBC yields 1.24% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BBC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BBC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBC led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. BBC is less concentrated, with 12.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.