BUG vs SPY
Global X Cybersecurity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BUG or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUG led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.2%.
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 | BUG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.03% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 34 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +58.39%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +33.84%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.19%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.57% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.4% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,085 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 62.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2019 to Sep 23, 2026 (6.9 years).
BUG 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
BUG vs SPY Performance
Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BUG returned +33.84% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, BUG is up 58.39% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, BUG compounded at +25.19% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.57% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, BUG has the edge at +17.90% annualized vs +15.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.4% compared with 16.7% 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 -41.7% for BUG 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUG charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUG currently yields 0.03% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
31.4% of BUG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BUG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
5 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in BUG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 34 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BUG (98.4% of the fund), and 15 for BUG that do not appear in SPY (56.8%).
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.
31.4% of BUG is already inside SPY.
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, BUG or SPY?
BUG has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUG or SPY?
Over the past year BUG returned +33.84% vs +16.73% for SPY, so BUG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BUG annualized +17.90% vs +15.65% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUG or SPY?
BUG has been the more volatile fund at 28.4% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BUG -41.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BUG and SPY?
BUG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 BUG and SPY?
31.4% of BUG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings BUG also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in BUG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUG or SPY?
BUG yields 0.03% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BUG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUG led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 62.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.