CATF vs SPY
American Century California Municipal Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CATF or SPY?
Municipal California against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | CATF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $83M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.68% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 304 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.57% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.67% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.3%Best | 12.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.1%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $10,264 | $13,933Best |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal California | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 18, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.1 years).
CATF 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
CATF vs SPY Performance
American Century California Municipal Bond ETF (CATF) is an ETF from American Century Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CATF returned +0.67% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, CATF is down 1.57% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 4.3% for CATF. 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 -5.1% for CATF and -18.8% 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CATF charges 0.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $9 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CATF currently yields 3.68% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 83 holdings in CATF and 504 in SPY, totalling 30.3% 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 83 positions we hold weights for in CATF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 304 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CATF 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, CATF or SPY?
CATF has an expense ratio of 0.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CATF or SPY?
Over the past year CATF returned +0.67% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), CATF annualized +1.25% vs +17.11% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CATF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 4.3% for CATF. Worst drawdown: CATF -5.1% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both CATF and SPY?
CATF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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, CATF or SPY?
CATF yields 3.68% while SPY yields 0.98%, so CATF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CATF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.