NRK vs SPY
Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NRK or SPY?
Municipal New York against Large Cap Blend.
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 | NRK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.09% |
| AUM | - | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.94% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 230 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.77% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.36% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.97% | +23.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.77% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.3%Best | 14.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.4%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,146 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal New York | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 21, 2002 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 22, 2002 to Sep 25, 2026 (23.8 years).
NRK 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.
NRK vs SPY Performance
Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NRK) 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 NRK returned +0.36% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, NRK is down 1.77% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Over three years, NRK compounded at +6.97% per year against +23.29% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.77% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.60% annualized vs -0.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 12.3% for NRK. 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 -46.4% for NRK 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in NRK and 504 in SPY, totalling 77.4% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 185 days apart, NRK as of Feb 28, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in NRK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 230 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NRK 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 performed better, NRK or SPY?
Over the past year NRK returned +0.36% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), NRK annualized -0.61% vs +9.60% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NRK or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 12.3% for NRK. Worst drawdown: NRK -46.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both NRK and SPY?
NRK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, NRK or SPY?
NRK yields 7.94% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NRK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NRK?
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.