BSTZ vs SPY
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BSTZ or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 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 | BSTZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.05% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.13% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 75 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +40.29%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +50.37%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.02%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.21% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.8% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,891 | $18,205Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (7.2 years).
BSTZ 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 7.2 years both funds cover.
BSTZ vs SPY Performance
BlackRock Science and Technology Term Trust (BSTZ) 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 BSTZ returned +50.37% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, BSTZ is up 40.29% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, BSTZ compounded at +35.02% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.21% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.41% annualized vs +15.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.8% compared with 16.4% 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 -59.3% for BSTZ 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BSTZ charges 1.05% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $105 vs $9 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSTZ currently yields 7.13% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.6% of SPY's money is in holdings BSTZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BSTZ, our book for it covers 62.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and BSTZ share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 216 days apart, BSTZ as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 75 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BSTZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.29% | 7.71% | 0.58% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 3.96% | 0.10% | 3.86% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.47% | 1.38% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.64% | 1.51% | 0.87% |
| APPAppLovin Corp. Com Cl A | 1.90% | 0.17% | 1.73% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 0.68% | 1.27% | 0.59% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 1.48% | 0.38% | 1.10% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.13% | 0.56% | 0.57% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 1.48% | 0.10% | 1.38% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 1.49% | 0.06% | 1.43% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BSTZ 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, BSTZ or SPY?
BSTZ has an expense ratio of 1.05% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BSTZ or SPY?
Over the past year BSTZ returned +50.37% vs +17.48% for SPY, so BSTZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSTZ annualized +15.03% vs +15.41% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BSTZ or SPY?
BSTZ has been the more volatile fund at 28.8% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BSTZ -59.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BSTZ and SPY?
BSTZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 BSTZ and SPY?
At least 13.6% of SPY's money is in holdings BSTZ also owns. Our book for BSTZ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 55 positions we hold weights for in BSTZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BSTZ or SPY?
BSTZ yields 7.13% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BSTZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BSTZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BSTZ led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.