NPCT vs SPY
Nuveen Core Plus Impact Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NPCT or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 | NPCT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | - | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.30% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 131 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.48% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.30% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.85% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.09% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.8% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,548 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 27, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 28, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.4 years).
NPCT 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 5.4 years both funds cover.
NPCT vs SPY Performance
Nuveen Core Plus Impact Fund (NPCT) 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 NPCT returned -2.30% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, NPCT is up 2.48% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, NPCT compounded at +12.85% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -3.09% and +12.53% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NPCT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 15.3% 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 -46.8% for NPCT and -24.5% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NPCT charges 1.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $138 vs $9 annually, a gap of $129 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NPCT currently yields 11.30% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of SPY's money is in holdings NPCT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for NPCT, our book for it covers 64.7% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, NPCT as of Jun 30, 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in NPCT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 131 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NPCT 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, NPCT or SPY?
NPCT has an expense ratio of 1.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $129 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NPCT or SPY?
Over the past year NPCT returned -2.30% vs +15.52% 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, NPCT or SPY?
NPCT has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NPCT -46.8% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both NPCT and SPY?
NPCT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, NPCT or SPY?
NPCT yields 11.30% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NPCT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NPCT?
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.