BUI vs SPY
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BUI or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 39.6%.
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 | BUI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $720M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 52 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.13% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.90% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.86% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.28% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,210 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 23, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.8 years).
BUI 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 14.8 years both funds cover.
BUI vs SPY Performance
BlackRock Utility Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) 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 BUI returned +8.90% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, BUI is up 7.13% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, BUI compounded at +16.86% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.28% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.20% annualized vs +4.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 14.0% 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 -48.3% for BUI 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUI charges 1.07% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $9 annually, a gap of $98 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUI currently yields 10.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
55.6% of BUI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's money is in holdings BUI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 52 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 475 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BUI (97.1% of the fund), and 11 for BUI that do not appear in SPY (13.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BUI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 6.17% | 0.27% | 5.90% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 4.11% | 0.26% | 3.85% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 4.17% | 0.13% | 4.04% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 3.96% | 0.15% | 3.81% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 3.94% | 0.16% | 3.78% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 3.46% | 0.10% | 3.36% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 3.25% | 0.08% | 3.17% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 2.85% | 0.09% | 2.76% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 2.81% | 0.09% | 2.72% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 2.55% | 0.07% | 2.48% |
55.6% of BUI 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, BUI or SPY?
BUI has an expense ratio of 1.07% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $98 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUI or SPY?
Over the past year BUI returned +8.90% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), BUI annualized +4.71% vs +14.20% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUI or SPY?
BUI has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 14.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BUI -48.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BUI and SPY?
BUI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 BUI and SPY?
55.6% of BUI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's is in holdings BUI also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BUI and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUI or SPY?
BUI yields 10.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so BUI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BUI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 39.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.