JABS vs SPY

JABS vs SPY

Which is better, JABS or SPY?

Investment Grade Bond against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: 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

MetricJABSSPY
Expense Ratio0.33%0.09%Best
AUM-$804.7B
Dividend Yield5.41%0.98%
Holdings141505
YTD Return+1.98%+12.47%Best
1Y Return+3.06%+17.51%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.18%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.88%
Volatility (annualized)1.4%Best12.3%
Max Drawdown-1.0%Best-8.9%
$10,000 over 1.1 years$10,423$12,108Best
Fund FamilyJanus Henderson InvestorsState Street Investment Management
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleInvestment Grade BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJul 22, 2025Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).

JABS 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 1.1 years both funds cover.

JABS vs SPY Performance

Janus Henderson Asset-Backed Securities ETF (JABS) 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. Over the past year JABS returned +3.06% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, JABS is up 1.98% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 1.4% for JABS. 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 -1.0% for JABS and -8.9% 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 0.28. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

JABS charges 0.33% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $9 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JABS currently yields 5.41% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 20 holdings in JABS and 504 in SPY, totalling 12.7% and 100.0% 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 20 positions we hold weights for in JABS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 141 and 505.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

JABSSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, JABS or SPY?

JABS has an expense ratio of 0.33% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, JABS or SPY?

Over the past year JABS returned +3.06% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JABS annualized +3.84% vs +18.99% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, JABS or SPY?

SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 1.4% for JABS. Worst drawdown: JABS -1.0% vs SPY -8.9%.

Should I hold both JABS and SPY?

JABS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.28, 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, JABS or SPY?

JABS yields 5.41% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JABS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than JABS?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.