BIB vs SPY
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BIB or SPY?
Trading-Leveraged Equity against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BIB led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y.
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 | BIB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $101M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 261 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +44.52%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +99.15%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.73%Best | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.15% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 40.5% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -67.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,122 | $18,173Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 6, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 8, 2010 to Sep 8, 2026 (16.4 years).
BIB 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 16.4 years both funds cover.
BIB vs SPY Performance
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology (BIB) is an ETF from ProShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BIB returned +99.15% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, BIB is up 44.52% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, BIB compounded at +31.73% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.15% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, BIB has the edge at +18.28% annualized vs +12.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BIB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.5% 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 -67.2% for BIB 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BIB charges 0.95% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $9 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BIB currently yields 0.33% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BIB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BIB, our book for it covers 60.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and BIB share little of their money.
8 positions in common, counted across the 252 positions we hold weights for in BIB and 503 in SPY, against full books of 261 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BIB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VRTXVertex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 4.62% | 0.18% | 4.44% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 4.24% | 0.32% | 3.92% |
| GILDGilead Sciences Inc | 3.76% | 0.25% | 3.51% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2.49% | 0.11% | 2.38% |
| MRNAMrna Uw Equity | 1.21% | 0.03% | 1.18% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. | 1.14% | 0.05% | 1.09% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 0.86% | 0.03% | 0.83% |
| VTRSViatris Inc | 0.73% | 0.03% | 0.70% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BIB 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, BIB or SPY?
BIB has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BIB or SPY?
Over the past year BIB returned +99.15% vs +19.36% for SPY, so BIB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), BIB annualized +18.28% vs +12.53% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BIB or SPY?
BIB has been the more volatile fund at 40.5% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BIB -67.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BIB and SPY?
BIB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 BIB and SPY?
At least 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BIB also owns. Our book for BIB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 252 positions we hold weights for in BIB and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BIB or SPY?
BIB yields 0.33% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BIB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BIB led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.