LJUL vs SPY
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LJUL or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | LJUL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $9M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.21% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 28 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +0.08% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.24% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.1%Best | 12.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.2%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $10,887 | $14,398Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 1, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2024 to Sep 25, 2026 (2.2 years).
LJUL 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
LJUL vs SPY Performance
Innovator Premium Income 15 Buffer ETF - July (LJUL) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LJUL returned +1.24% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, LJUL is up 0.08% versus a gain of 13.51% 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 12.1% compared with 1.1% for LJUL. 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 -3.2% for LJUL and -18.8% 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LJUL charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LJUL currently yields 5.21% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LJUL 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, LJUL or SPY?
LJUL has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LJUL or SPY?
Over the past year LJUL returned +1.24% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), LJUL annualized +3.94% vs +18.02% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LJUL or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 1.1% for LJUL. Worst drawdown: LJUL -3.2% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both LJUL and SPY?
LJUL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, LJUL or SPY?
LJUL yields 5.21% while SPY yields 0.98%, so LJUL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LJUL?
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.