BST vs SPY
BlackRock Science and Technology Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BST or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BST 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 | BST | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.10% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.06% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +31.23%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +37.09%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.75%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.95% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.9% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,351 | $18,728Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 29, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 29, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (11.9 years).
BST 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
BST vs SPY Performance
BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) 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 BST returned +37.09% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, BST is up 31.23% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, BST compounded at +27.75% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.95% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, BST has the edge at +12.73% annualized vs +12.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BST has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% 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 -46.6% for BST 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BST charges 1.10% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $110 vs $9 annually, a gap of $101 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BST currently yields 8.06% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 39.1% of SPY's money is in holdings BST also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BST, our book for it covers 73.9% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 244 days apart, BST as of Dec 31, 2025 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
24 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in BST and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BST | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 11.57% | 8.01% | 3.56% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.47% | 7.26% | 1.79% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.69% | 5.66% | 1.03% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 8.37% | 2.66% | 5.71% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.77% | 2.99% | 0.78% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.21% | 3.79% | 2.58% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.24% | 1.93% | 0.31% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.32% | 1.52% | 0.20% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.27% | 0.55% | 1.72% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 1.92% | 0.36% | 1.56% |
39.1% of SPY is already inside BST.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BST or SPY?
BST has an expense ratio of 1.10% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $101 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BST or SPY?
Over the past year BST returned +37.09% vs +16.29% for SPY, so BST leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), BST annualized +12.73% vs +12.70% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BST or SPY?
BST has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BST -46.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BST and SPY?
BST and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 BST and SPY?
At least 39.1% of SPY's money is in holdings BST also owns. Our book for BST is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in BST and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BST or SPY?
BST yields 8.06% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BST?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BST 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.