LITL vs SPY
Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LITL or SPY?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LITL led over 1Y, SPY over 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 | LITL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.66% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 171 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.32%Best | +13.78% |
| 1Y Return | +22.39%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $13,689 | $13,975Best |
| Fund Family | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 28, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 29, 2025 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.3 years).
LITL 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
LITL vs SPY Performance
Simplify Piper Sandler US Small-Cap PLUS Income ETF (LITL) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LITL returned +22.39% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, LITL is up 17.32% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LITL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 12.0% for SPY. 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 -9.3% for LITL 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LITL charges 0.91% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $9 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LITL currently yields 1.66% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 140 holdings in LITL and 504 in SPY, totalling 92.4% 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 140 positions we hold weights for in LITL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 171 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LITL 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, LITL or SPY?
LITL has an expense ratio of 0.91% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LITL or SPY?
Over the past year LITL returned +22.39% vs +21.44% for SPY, so LITL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LITL annualized +27.32% vs +29.36% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LITL or SPY?
LITL has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 12.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: LITL -9.3% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both LITL and SPY?
LITL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, LITL or SPY?
LITL yields 1.66% while SPY yields 1.01%, so LITL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LITL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LITL led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.