JA vs SPY

JA vs SPY

Which is better, JA or SPY?

SPY costs less.

SPY has a lower expense ratio.

Lower Fees: SPY

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

MetricJASPY
Expense Ratio0.29%0.09%Best
AUM-$804.7B
Dividend Yield2.53%0.98%
Holdings1505
YTD Return+2.86%+12.22%Best
1Y Return-+16.97%
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.16%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.00%
Fund FamilyJanus Henderson InvestorsState Street Investment Management
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
Style-Large Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 18, 2026Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

JA 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.

Compare JA against instead:JA vs QQQJA vs VOOJA vs VTIJA vs IVVSPY against:SPY vs SPLGSPY vs RSP

JA vs SPY Performance

Janus Henderson AA-A CLO ETF (JA) is an ETF from Janus Henderson Investors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, JA is up 2.86% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

JA 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, JA currently yields 2.53% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 1 holding in JA and 504 in SPY, totalling 2.4% 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 1 positions we hold weights for in JA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1 and 505.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of JA and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

JASPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, JA or SPY?

JA 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 pays a higher dividend, JA or SPY?

JA yields 2.53% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JA currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than JA?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.