BBH vs SPY
VanEck Biotech ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BBH or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBH led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.0%.
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 | BBH | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $406M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.46% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 25 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +28.12%Best | +13.78% |
| 1Y Return | +47.80%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.20% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.56% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.1% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,347 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.0% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 20, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 1999 to Sep 3, 2026 (26.8 years).
BBH 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 26.8 years both funds cover.
BBH vs SPY Performance
VanEck Biotech ETF (BBH) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BBH returned +47.80% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, BBH is up 28.12% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, BBH compounded at +15.20% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.56% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 27-year window we track, BBH has the edge at +14.72% annualized vs +6.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BBH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.1% compared with 15.2% 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 -72.7% for BBH and -56.5% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBH charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBH currently yields 0.46% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
62.2% of BBH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings BBH also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in BBH and 504 in SPY, against full books of 25 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 486 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BBH (98.4% of the fund), and 11 for BBH that do not appear in SPY (30.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BBH | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 16.58% | 0.32% | 16.26% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 12.87% | 0.25% | 12.62% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 8.58% | 0.18% | 8.40% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 7.39% | 0.11% | 7.28% |
| IQVIqvia Holdings Inc | 5.08% | 0.06% | 5.02% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 3.35% | 0.05% | 3.30% |
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 2.61% | 0.03% | 2.58% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 2.54% | 0.03% | 2.51% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 1.67% | 0.02% | 1.65% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 1.52% | 0.02% | 1.50% |
62.2% of BBH is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BBH or SPY?
BBH has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBH or SPY?
Over the past year BBH returned +47.80% vs +21.44% for SPY, so BBH leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (27 years), BBH annualized +14.72% vs +6.85% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBH or SPY?
BBH has been the more volatile fund at 31.1% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BBH -72.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both BBH and SPY?
BBH and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BBH and SPY?
62.2% of BBH's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.1% of SPY's is in holdings BBH also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in BBH and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BBH or SPY?
BBH yields 0.46% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BBH?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBH led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.