NCV vs SPY
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NCV or SPY?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
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 | NCV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $398M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 220 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.36% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.72% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.59% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.60% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.1% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,369 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2003 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2003 to Sep 16, 2026 (23.5 years).
NCV 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.
NCV vs SPY Performance
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (NCV) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year NCV returned +14.72% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, NCV is up 10.36% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, NCV compounded at +20.59% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.60% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.97% annualized vs -2.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.1% compared with 14.5% 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 -84.8% for NCV 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NCV charges 1.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $145 vs $9 annually, a gap of $136 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NCV currently yields 8.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.0% of SPY's money is in holdings NCV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NCV, our book for it covers 59.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and NCV share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, NCV as of Feb 27, 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.
27 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in NCV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 220 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NCV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 3.80% | 0.10% | 3.70% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 2.64% | 0.24% | 2.40% |
| BABoeing Co. (The) | 1.75% | 0.25% | 1.50% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.60% | 0.26% | 1.34% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.40% | 1.14% | 0.74% |
| LYVLive Nation Entertainment Inc | 1.46% | 0.04% | 1.42% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.87% | 0.36% | 0.51% |
| PCGPg&E Corp. | 1.00% | 0.05% | 0.95% |
| STXSeagate Technology Holdings Plc | 0.73% | 0.28% | 0.45% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 0.91% | 0.05% | 0.86% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NCV 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, NCV or SPY?
NCV has an expense ratio of 1.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $136 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NCV or SPY?
Over the past year NCV returned +14.72% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), NCV annualized -2.95% vs +9.97% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NCV or SPY?
NCV has been the more volatile fund at 26.1% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NCV -84.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both NCV and SPY?
NCV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 NCV and SPY?
At least 4.0% of SPY's money is in holdings NCV also owns. Our book for NCV is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in NCV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NCV or SPY?
NCV yields 8.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NCV?
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.