DIAL vs SPY
Columbia Diversified Fixed Income Allocation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DIAL or SPY?
Diversified Sectoral Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | DIAL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $397M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.12% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 669 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +0.61% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.66% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.05% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.25% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.4%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.2%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,126 | $18,270Best |
| Fund Family | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Diversified Sectoral Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 12, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.9 years).
DIAL 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.
DIAL vs SPY Performance
Columbia Diversified Fixed Income Allocation ETF (DIAL) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DIAL returned +2.66% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DIAL is up 0.61% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DIAL compounded at +6.05% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.25% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.20% annualized vs +1.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 7.4% for DIAL. 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 -22.2% for DIAL 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIAL charges 0.29% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $9 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIAL currently yields 5.12% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 412 holdings in DIAL and 504 in SPY, totalling 55.6% 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 412 positions we hold weights for in DIAL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 669 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DIAL 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, DIAL or SPY?
DIAL has an expense ratio of 0.29% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DIAL or SPY?
Over the past year DIAL returned +2.66% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), DIAL annualized +1.17% vs +14.20% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIAL or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 7.4% for DIAL. Worst drawdown: DIAL -22.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DIAL and SPY?
DIAL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, DIAL or SPY?
DIAL yields 5.12% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DIAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DIAL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.