BYLD vs SPY
iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BYLD or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 94.8%.
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 | BYLD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.13% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $447M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.41% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 13 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +0.35% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.69% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.09% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.73% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.6%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.9%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,895 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 94.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 22, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 24, 2014 to Sep 9, 2026 (12.4 years).
BYLD 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.
BYLD vs SPY Performance
iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF (BYLD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BYLD returned +1.69% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, BYLD is up 0.35% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, BYLD compounded at +6.09% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.73% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.66% annualized vs +0.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 4.6% for BYLD. 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 -15.9% for BYLD 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
BYLD charges 0.13% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $13 vs $9 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BYLD currently yields 5.41% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 13 holdings in BYLD and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% 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 13 positions we hold weights for in BYLD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 13 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 13 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 494 positions BYLD does not, 99.5% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BYLD 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, BYLD or SPY?
BYLD has an expense ratio of 0.13% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BYLD or SPY?
Over the past year BYLD returned +1.69% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), BYLD annualized +0.93% vs +12.66% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BYLD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 4.6% for BYLD. Worst drawdown: BYLD -15.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BYLD and SPY?
BYLD 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, BYLD or SPY?
BYLD yields 5.41% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BYLD?
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 94.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.