HTRB vs SPY
Hartford Total Return Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HTRB or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 | HTRB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.12% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,811 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.31% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.76% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.55% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.28% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.9%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.1%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,861 | $18,327Best |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2017 to Sep 11, 2026 (9 years).
HTRB 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.
HTRB vs SPY Performance
Hartford Total Return Bond ETF (HTRB) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HTRB returned -0.76% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, HTRB is down 1.31% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, HTRB compounded at +4.55% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.28% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.22% annualized vs +0.30%.
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 5.9% for HTRB. 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 -21.1% for HTRB 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HTRB 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, HTRB currently yields 5.12% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings HTRB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HTRB, our book for it covers 77.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,236 positions we hold weights for in HTRB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,811 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HTRB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 0.01% | 0.15% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HTRB 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, HTRB or SPY?
HTRB 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, HTRB or SPY?
Over the past year HTRB returned -0.76% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), HTRB annualized +0.30% vs +14.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HTRB or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 5.9% for HTRB. Worst drawdown: HTRB -21.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HTRB and SPY?
HTRB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, HTRB or SPY?
HTRB yields 5.12% while SPY yields 0.98%, so HTRB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HTRB?
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.