HNDL vs SPY
Strategy Shares Nasdaq 7 HANDL Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HNDL or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 77.5%.
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 | HNDL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $630M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 26 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.46% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.72% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.92% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.93% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9%Best | 16.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.7%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,126 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 77.5% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | STRATEGY SHARES | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 17, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2018 to Sep 14, 2026 (8.7 years).
HNDL 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 8.7 years both funds cover.
HNDL vs SPY Performance
Strategy Shares Nasdaq 7 HANDL Index ETF (HNDL) is an ETF from STRATEGY SHARES and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HNDL returned +5.72% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, HNDL is up 4.46% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, HNDL compounded at +10.92% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.93% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.22% annualized vs +3.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 10.9% for HNDL. 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 -23.7% for HNDL 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HNDL charges 0.95% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $9 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HNDL currently yields 7.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in HNDL and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.0% 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 19 positions we hold weights for in HNDL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 26 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HNDL (99.3% of the fund), and 19 for HNDL that do not appear in SPY (98.0%).
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 HNDL 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, HNDL or SPY?
HNDL has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HNDL or SPY?
Over the past year HNDL returned +5.72% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), HNDL annualized +3.08% vs +13.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HNDL or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 10.9% for HNDL. Worst drawdown: HNDL -23.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HNDL and SPY?
HNDL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, HNDL or SPY?
HNDL yields 7.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so HNDL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HNDL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 77.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.