MIN vs SPY
Aberdeen Intermediate Income Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MIN or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | MIN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $297M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.05% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 219 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -4.82% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.42% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.36% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.10% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.5%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -57.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,950 | $18,327Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 17, 1988 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 14, 2026 (30.7 years).
MIN 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.
MIN vs SPY Performance
Aberdeen Intermediate Income Fund (MIN) is an ETF from Aberdeen Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MIN returned -5.42% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, MIN is down 4.82% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, MIN compounded at +4.36% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.10% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.76% annualized vs -1.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 7.5% for MIN. 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 -57.9% for MIN and -56.5% 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 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MIN charges 0.64% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $9 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MIN currently yields 9.05% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings MIN also owns.
Stated as a floor: for MIN, our book for it covers 72.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 213 days apart, MIN as of Jan 31, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1 positions in common, counted across the 149 positions we hold weights for in MIN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 219 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MIN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa, Inc. 3.875% 15-Apr-2030 | 0.80% | 0.13% | 0.67% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MIN 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, MIN or SPY?
MIN has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MIN or SPY?
Over the past year MIN returned -5.42% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), MIN annualized -1.68% vs +8.76% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MIN or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 7.5% for MIN. Worst drawdown: MIN -57.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both MIN and SPY?
MIN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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, MIN or SPY?
MIN yields 9.05% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MIN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MIN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.