NULC vs SPY
Nuveen ESG Large-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NULC or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NULC led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. NULC is less concentrated, with 32.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | NULC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.21% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $72M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.88% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 138 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.61%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +18.13%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.62% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.18% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,237 | $18,424Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 3, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2019 to Sep 17, 2026 (7.3 years).
NULC 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 7.3 years both funds cover.
NULC vs SPY Performance
Nuveen ESG Large-Cap ETF (NULC) 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 NULC returned +18.13% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, NULC is up 14.61% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, NULC compounded at +19.62% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.18% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.88% annualized vs +15.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NULC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 16.4% 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 -34.9% for NULC and -34.1% 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NULC charges 0.21% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $21 vs $9 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NULC currently yields 0.88% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
96.2% of NULC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 41.0% of SPY's money is in holdings NULC also owns.
Most of NULC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
117 positions in common, counted across the 128 positions we hold weights for in NULC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 138 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 381 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NULC (58.4% of the fund), and 9 for NULC that do not appear in SPY (3.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NULC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 9.09% | 8.01% | 1.08% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.26% | 5.66% | 0.40% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.55% | 2.66% | 0.89% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.33% | 1.93% | 1.40% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.36% | 1.14% | 1.22% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 1.97% | 0.94% | 1.03% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 1.85% | 0.71% | 1.14% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.75% | 0.66% | 1.09% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 1.74% | 0.52% | 1.22% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.58% | 0.56% | 1.02% |
96.2% of NULC is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, NULC or SPY?
NULC has an expense ratio of 0.21% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NULC or SPY?
Over the past year NULC returned +18.13% vs +16.97% for SPY, so NULC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), NULC annualized +15.09% vs +15.88% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NULC or SPY?
NULC has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NULC -34.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both NULC and SPY?
NULC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NULC and SPY?
96.2% of NULC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 41.0% of SPY's is in holdings NULC also owns. They hold 117 positions in common, counted across the 128 positions we hold weights for in NULC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NULC or SPY?
NULC yields 0.88% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NULC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NULC led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. NULC is less concentrated, with 32.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.