BHV vs SPY
BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BHV or SPY?
Municipal Virginia against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BHV 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 | BHV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.11% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 43 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.78%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +24.97%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.12% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.49% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.4% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,815 | $18,205Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Virginia | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 30, 2002 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2002 to Sep 10, 2026 (24.4 years).
BHV 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BHV vs SPY Performance
BlackRock Virginia Municipal Bond Trust (BHV) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BHV returned +24.97% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, BHV is up 22.78% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, BHV compounded at +13.12% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -2.49% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.68% annualized vs +0.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BHV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 14.9% 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 -57.4% for BHV 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 0.27. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BHV charges 2.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $260 vs $9 annually, a gap of $251 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BHV currently yields 5.11% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 18 holdings in BHV and 504 in SPY, totalling 63.7% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 185 days apart, BHV as of Jan 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 18 positions we hold weights for in BHV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 43 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BHV 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, BHV or SPY?
BHV has an expense ratio of 2.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $251 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BHV or SPY?
Over the past year BHV returned +24.97% vs +17.48% for SPY, so BHV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), BHV annualized +0.20% vs +8.68% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BHV or SPY?
BHV has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BHV -57.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both BHV and SPY?
BHV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.27, 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, BHV or SPY?
BHV yields 5.11% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BHV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BHV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BHV 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.