MLPB vs SPY
ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MLPB or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. MLPB led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. MLPB is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%.
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 | MLPB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $210M | $777.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.83% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 41 | 1,011 |
| YTD Return | +14.71%Best | +8.47% |
| 1Y Return | +18.59%Best | +10.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.23% | +20.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.42%Best | +10.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,288Best | $16,775 |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.1%Best | 38.9% |
| Fund Family | UBS AG | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 9, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 9, 2015 to Nov 6, 2026 (11.1 years).
MLPB 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
MLPB vs SPY Performance
ETRACS Alerian MLP Infrastructure Index ETN Series B (MLPB) is an ETF from UBS AG and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MLPB returned +18.59% while SPY returned +10.88%. Year to date, MLPB is up 14.71% versus a gain of 8.47% for SPY.
Over three years, MLPB compounded at +16.23% per year against +20.41% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +18.42% and +10.90% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.18% annualized vs +2.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MLPB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.6% compared with 15.0% 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 -77.6% for MLPB and -34.1% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MLPB charges 0.85% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $9 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MLPB currently yields 5.83% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
79.2% of MLPB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 38.1% of SPY's money is in holdings MLPB also owns.
Most of MLPB is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
32 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in MLPB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 41 and 1,011.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 467 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MLPB (61.5% of the fund), and 2 for MLPB that do not appear in SPY (6.1%).
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 MLPB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple Inc | 2.86% | 7.53% | 4.67% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.49% | 5.96% | 3.47% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.73% | 3.75% | 1.02% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.86% | 2.48% | 1.38% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.79% | 2.46% | 1.33% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.54% | 2.45% | 0.09% |
| AMATApplied Material | 4.25% | 0.53% | 3.72% |
| CATCaterpillar Inc | 3.85% | 0.52% | 3.33% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.96% | 1.34% | 1.62% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co | 2.64% | 1.45% | 1.19% |
79.2% of MLPB 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, MLPB or SPY?
MLPB has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MLPB or SPY?
Over the past year MLPB returned +18.59% vs +10.88% for SPY, so MLPB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), MLPB annualized +2.44% vs +13.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MLPB or SPY?
MLPB has been the more volatile fund at 30.6% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MLPB -77.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both MLPB and SPY?
MLPB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 MLPB and SPY?
79.2% of MLPB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 38.1% of SPY's is in holdings MLPB also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in MLPB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, MLPB or SPY?
MLPB yields 5.83% while SPY yields 1.00%, so MLPB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MLPB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. MLPB led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. MLPB is less concentrated, with 35.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.