BOND vs SPY
PIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BOND or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 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 | BOND | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $8.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,761 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.30% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.41% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.88% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.27% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.0%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.7%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,866 | $18,327Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 29, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 1, 2012 to Sep 14, 2026 (14.5 years).
BOND 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.
BOND vs SPY Performance
PIMCO Active Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (BOND) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BOND returned -0.41% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, BOND is down 1.30% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, BOND compounded at +4.88% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.27% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs +0.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 5.0% for BOND. 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 -19.7% for BOND 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BOND charges 0.54% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $9 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BOND currently yields 5.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 599 holdings in BOND and 504 in SPY, totalling 65.2% and 99.9% 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 599 positions we hold weights for in BOND and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,761 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BOND 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, BOND or SPY?
BOND has an expense ratio of 0.54% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BOND or SPY?
Over the past year BOND returned -0.41% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BOND annualized +0.78% vs +13.05% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BOND or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 5.0% for BOND. Worst drawdown: BOND -19.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BOND and SPY?
BOND and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, BOND or SPY?
BOND yields 5.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BOND currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BOND?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.