BBEM vs SPY
JPMorgan BetaBuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BBEM or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window.
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 | BBEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $883M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.92% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 1,489 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +20.95%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +37.96%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.74%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.4%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.3 years | $18,565 | $19,437Best |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 10, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 12, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.3 years).
BBEM 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 3.3 years both funds cover.
BBEM vs SPY Performance
JPMorgan BetaBuilders Emerging Markets Equity ETF (BBEM) 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 BBEM returned +37.96% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BBEM is up 20.95% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BBEM compounded at +21.74% per year against +21.20% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BBEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 12.7% 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 -17.4% for BBEM 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBEM charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBEM currently yields 4.92% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of SPY's money is in holdings BBEM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BBEM, our book for it covers 94.1% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, BBEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 889 positions we hold weights for in BBEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,489 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BBEM 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, BBEM or SPY?
BBEM has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBEM or SPY?
Over the past year BBEM returned +37.96% vs +19.97% for SPY, so BBEM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBEM or SPY?
BBEM has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 12.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BBEM -17.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both BBEM and SPY?
BBEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, BBEM or SPY?
BBEM yields 4.92% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BBEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BBEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.