BFOR vs SPY
Barron'S 400 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BFOR or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BFOR led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and 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 | BFOR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $233M | $777.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 803 | 1,011 |
| YTD Return | +9.15%Best | +8.47% |
| 1Y Return | +14.76%Best | +10.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.56% | +20.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.81% | +10.90%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,564 | $16,775Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS ETF Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 3, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2013 to Nov 6, 2026 (13.4 years).
BFOR 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
BFOR vs SPY Performance
Barron'S 400 ETF (BFOR) is an ETF from ALPS ETF Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BFOR returned +14.76% while SPY returned +10.88%. Year to date, BFOR is up 9.15% versus a gain of 8.47% for SPY.
Over three years, BFOR compounded at +18.56% per year against +20.41% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.81% and +10.90% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.49% annualized vs +10.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BFOR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 14.4% 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 -42.2% for BFOR 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFOR 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, BFOR currently yields 0.52% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 53.8% of SPY's money is in holdings BFOR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BFOR, our book for it covers 91.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
128 positions in common, counted across the 368 positions we hold weights for in BFOR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 803 and 1,011.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BFOR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.26% | 8.05% | 7.79% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 0.26% | 7.53% | 7.27% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.27% | 5.96% | 5.69% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.25% | 3.75% | 3.50% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 0.25% | 3.07% | 2.82% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.28% | 2.45% | 2.17% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.25% | 2.48% | 2.23% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.25% | 1.55% | 1.30% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 0.27% | 1.45% | 1.18% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.26% | 1.00% | 0.74% |
53.8% of SPY is already inside BFOR.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BFOR or SPY?
BFOR 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, BFOR or SPY?
Over the past year BFOR returned +14.76% vs +10.88% for SPY, so BFOR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), BFOR annualized +10.51% vs +12.49% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFOR or SPY?
BFOR has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BFOR -42.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BFOR and SPY?
BFOR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 BFOR and SPY?
At least 53.8% of SPY's money is in holdings BFOR also owns. Our book for BFOR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 128 positions in common, counted across the 368 positions we hold weights for in BFOR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFOR or SPY?
BFOR yields 0.52% while SPY yields 1.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BFOR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BFOR led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.