HIPS vs SPY
GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HIPS or SPY?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HIPS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | HIPS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.17% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $123M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 81 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.18% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.36% | +16.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.48% | +22.84%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.27% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,325 | $18,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | GraniteShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 7, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 7, 2015 to Sep 22, 2026 (11.7 years).
HIPS 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 11.7 years both funds cover.
HIPS vs SPY Performance
GraniteShares HIPS US High Income ETF (HIPS) is an ETF from GraniteShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HIPS returned +5.36% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, HIPS is up 3.18% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, HIPS compounded at +8.48% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.27% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.85% annualized vs -0.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HIPS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% 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 -61.6% for HIPS 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HIPS charges 1.17% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $117 vs $9 annually, a gap of $108 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HIPS currently yields 10.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 39 holdings in HIPS and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.2% and 99.9% 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 39 positions we hold weights for in HIPS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 81 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HIPS (99.3% of the fund), and 39 for HIPS that do not appear in SPY (99.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HIPS 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, HIPS or SPY?
HIPS has an expense ratio of 1.17% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $108 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HIPS or SPY?
Over the past year HIPS returned +5.36% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), HIPS annualized -0.13% vs +12.85% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HIPS or SPY?
HIPS has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: HIPS -61.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HIPS and SPY?
HIPS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, HIPS or SPY?
HIPS yields 10.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so HIPS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HIPS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HIPS is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.