MUNC vs SPY
Northern Trust 2045 Tax-Exempt Distributing Ladder ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MUNC or SPY?
Long Term Municipal Bond 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 | MUNC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.10% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 153 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.41% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.14% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 12.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.6%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,135 | $12,075Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 28, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.1 years).
MUNC 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
MUNC vs SPY Performance
Northern Trust 2045 Tax-Exempt Distributing Ladder ETF (MUNC) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MUNC returned -1.14% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, MUNC is down 2.41% versus a gain of 12.09% 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 12.9% compared with 4.8% for MUNC. 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 -4.6% for MUNC 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MUNC charges 0.18% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MUNC currently yields 3.10% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 28 holdings in MUNC and 504 in SPY, totalling 16.4% and 99.9% 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 28 positions we hold weights for in MUNC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 153 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MUNC 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, MUNC or SPY?
MUNC has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MUNC or SPY?
Over the past year MUNC returned -1.14% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), MUNC annualized +1.23% vs +18.70% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MUNC or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 4.8% for MUNC. Worst drawdown: MUNC -4.6% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both MUNC and SPY?
MUNC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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, MUNC or SPY?
MUNC yields 3.10% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MUNC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MUNC?
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.