NCPB vs SPY
Nuveen Core Plus Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NCPB or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 | NCPB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $55M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.32% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 476 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -0.62% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.35% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.4%Best | 12.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $11,448 | $15,402Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 5, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.5 years).
NCPB 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
NCPB vs SPY Performance
Nuveen Core Plus Bond ETF (NCPB) is an ETF from Nuveen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year NCPB returned +0.35% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, NCPB is down 0.62% versus a gain of 12.47% 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 4.4% for NCPB. 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 -2.9% for NCPB 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NCPB charges 0.31% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $31 vs $9 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NCPB currently yields 5.32% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings NCPB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NCPB, our book for it covers 62.6% 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 316 positions we hold weights for in NCPB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 476 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NCPB 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, NCPB or SPY?
NCPB has an expense ratio of 0.31% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NCPB or SPY?
Over the past year NCPB returned +0.35% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NCPB or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 4.4% for NCPB. Worst drawdown: NCPB -2.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both NCPB and SPY?
NCPB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, NCPB or SPY?
NCPB yields 5.32% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NCPB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NCPB?
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.