BOAT vs SPY
SonicShares Global Shipping ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BOAT or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BOAT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.1%.
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 | BOAT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $98M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.35% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 57 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +66.54%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +65.89%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +34.20%Best | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.23%Best | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.1% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,589Best | $18,173 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Lucania Investments LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 3, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 4, 2021 to Sep 8, 2026 (5.1 years).
BOAT 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
BOAT vs SPY Performance
SonicShares Global Shipping ETF (BOAT) is an ETF from Lucania Investments LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BOAT returned +65.89% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, BOAT is up 66.54% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, BOAT compounded at +34.20% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +24.23% and +12.69% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BOAT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.1% compared with 15.8% 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 -33.9% for BOAT and -24.5% 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BOAT charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BOAT currently yields 6.35% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 52 holdings in BOAT and 503 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in BOAT and 503 in SPY, against full books of 57 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BOAT (99.4% of the fund), and 14 for BOAT that do not appear in SPY (18.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BOAT 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, BOAT or SPY?
BOAT has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BOAT or SPY?
Over the past year BOAT returned +65.89% vs +19.36% for SPY, so BOAT leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BOAT or SPY?
BOAT has been the more volatile fund at 27.1% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BOAT -33.9% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both BOAT and SPY?
BOAT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, BOAT or SPY?
BOAT yields 6.35% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BOAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BOAT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BOAT led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.