JAVA vs SPY
JPMorgan Active Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JAVA or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JAVA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. JAVA is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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 | JAVA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.44% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $7.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.18% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 155 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.18%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +18.91%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.83% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.78% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.5%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,451 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | J.P. Morgan Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 4, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 5, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).
JAVA 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 5 years both funds cover.
JAVA vs SPY Performance
JPMorgan Active Value ETF (JAVA) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year JAVA returned +18.91% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, JAVA is up 12.18% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, JAVA compounded at +16.83% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.78% and +13.37% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 14.4% for JAVA. 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 -16.5% for JAVA and -24.5% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JAVA charges 0.44% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $44 vs $9 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JAVA currently yields 1.18% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
90.9% of JAVA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 57.2% of SPY's money is in holdings JAVA also owns.
Most of JAVA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
131 positions in common, counted across the 155 positions we hold weights for in JAVA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 155 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 366 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for JAVA (42.2% of the fund), and 19 for JAVA that do not appear in SPY (7.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JAVA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.87% | 5.66% | 0.21% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 7.27% | 3.79% | 3.48% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.05% | 7.26% | 4.21% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.57% | 8.01% | 7.44% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.81% | 1.93% | 0.12% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.46% | 0.62% | 1.84% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.46% | 1.40% | 0.06% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.35% | 2.39% | 2.04% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.23% | 0.40% | 1.83% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.17% | 0.99% | 0.18% |
90.9% of JAVA is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JAVA or SPY?
JAVA has an expense ratio of 0.44% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JAVA or SPY?
Over the past year JAVA returned +18.91% vs +16.29% for SPY, so JAVA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JAVA or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.4% for JAVA. Worst drawdown: JAVA -16.5% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both JAVA and SPY?
JAVA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between JAVA and SPY?
90.9% of JAVA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 57.2% of SPY's is in holdings JAVA also owns. They hold 131 positions in common, counted across the 155 positions we hold weights for in JAVA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, JAVA or SPY?
JAVA yields 1.18% while SPY yields 0.98%, so JAVA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JAVA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JAVA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. JAVA is less concentrated, with 28.8% 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.