BBP vs SPY
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BBP or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BBP is less concentrated, with 19.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | BBP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $116M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 70 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +35.95%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +56.35%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.03%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.59%Best | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.0% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,635Best | $18,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 19.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid 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 4, 2026 (11.7 years).
BBP 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 11.7 years both funds cover.
BBP vs SPY Performance
Virtus LifeSci Biotech Products ETF (BBP) 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 BBP returned +56.35% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BBP is up 35.95% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BBP compounded at +27.03% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +15.59% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, BBP has the edge at +13.10% annualized vs +12.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BBP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.0% 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 -44.3% for BBP 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BBP charges 0.34% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $9 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BBP currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
10.4% of BBP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BBP also owns.
BBP and SPY share little of their money.
7 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in BBP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 70 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BBP (98.5% of the fund), and 54 for BBP that do not appear in SPY (81.0%).
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 BBP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 1.53% | 0.32% | 1.21% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 1.67% | 0.11% | 1.56% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 1.40% | 0.25% | 1.15% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 1.45% | 0.18% | 1.27% |
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 1.50% | 0.03% | 1.47% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 1.47% | 0.03% | 1.44% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 1.38% | 0.05% | 1.33% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BBP 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, BBP or SPY?
BBP has an expense ratio of 0.34% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BBP or SPY?
Over the past year BBP returned +56.35% vs +19.97% for SPY, so BBP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), BBP annualized +13.10% vs +12.82% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BBP or SPY?
BBP has been the more volatile fund at 24.0% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BBP -44.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BBP and SPY?
BBP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 BBP and SPY?
10.4% of BBP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings BBP also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in BBP and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BBP or SPY?
BBP yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BBP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BBP led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BBP is less concentrated, with 19.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.