HACK vs SPY
Amplify Cybersecurity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HACK or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HACK led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.1%.
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 | HACK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.05% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 25 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +56.48%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +42.71%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +34.54%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.17%Best | +13.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,398Best | $18,481 |
| Top 10 Weight | 53.1% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 11, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 12, 2014 to Sep 23, 2026 (11.9 years).
HACK 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
HACK vs SPY Performance
Amplify Cybersecurity ETF (HACK) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HACK returned +42.71% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, HACK is up 56.48% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, HACK compounded at +34.54% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.17% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, HACK has the edge at +14.90% annualized vs +12.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HACK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 15.0% 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 -42.7% for HACK 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HACK charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HACK currently yields 0.05% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
44.8% of HACK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.6% of SPY's money is in holdings HACK also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in HACK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 25 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 488 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HACK (94.8% of the fund), and 13 for HACK that do not appear in SPY (48.5%).
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 HACK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.29% | 2.66% | 2.63% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 6.62% | 0.45% | 6.17% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 6.02% | 0.33% | 5.69% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 4.89% | 0.66% | 4.23% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 5.35% | 0.15% | 5.20% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 4.64% | 0.14% | 4.50% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 4.09% | 0.11% | 3.98% |
| GENGen Digital Inc | 4.12% | 0.03% | 4.09% |
| FFIVF5 Networks Inc. | 3.82% | 0.03% | 3.79% |
44.8% of HACK 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, HACK or SPY?
HACK has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HACK or SPY?
Over the past year HACK returned +42.71% vs +16.73% for SPY, so HACK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), HACK annualized +14.90% vs +12.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HACK or SPY?
HACK has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: HACK -42.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HACK and SPY?
HACK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 HACK and SPY?
44.8% of HACK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.6% of SPY's is in holdings HACK also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in HACK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, HACK or SPY?
HACK yields 0.05% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HACK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HACK led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 53.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.