NHYM vs SPY
Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NHYM or SPY?
High Yield 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 | NHYM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $134M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.63% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 263 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.26% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.02% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.0%Best | 13.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.1%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $10,215 | $12,588Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 23, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.6 years).
NHYM 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
NHYM vs SPY Performance
Nuveen High Yield Municipal Income ETF (NHYM) 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 NHYM returned +2.02% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, NHYM is down 1.26% versus a gain of 11.52% 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 13.0% compared with 6.0% for NHYM. 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 -6.1% for NHYM 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NHYM charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NHYM currently yields 4.63% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 104 holdings in NHYM and 504 in SPY, totalling 48.7% and 100.0% 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 104 positions we hold weights for in NHYM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 263 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NHYM 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, NHYM or SPY?
NHYM has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NHYM or SPY?
Over the past year NHYM returned +2.02% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NHYM annualized +1.34% vs +15.47% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NHYM or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 6.0% for NHYM. Worst drawdown: NHYM -6.1% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both NHYM and SPY?
NHYM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, NHYM or SPY?
NHYM yields 4.63% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NHYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NHYM?
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.