PLTA vs SPY
ProShares Ultra PLTR ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PLTA or SPY?
Trading-Leveraged Equity 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 | PLTA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.88% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 5 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -10.18% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | -31.99% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 140.0% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $8,122 | $11,833Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Leveraged Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 8, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 10, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1 years).
PLTA 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 years both funds cover.
PLTA vs SPY Performance
ProShares Ultra PLTR ETF (PLTA) is an ETF from ProShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PLTA returned -31.99% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, PLTA is down 10.18% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PLTA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 140.0% compared with 13.1% 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 -80.0% for PLTA and -8.9% 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 0.14. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PLTA charges 0.95% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $9 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PLTA currently yields 1.88% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PLTA 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, PLTA or SPY?
PLTA has an expense ratio of 0.95% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PLTA or SPY?
Over the past year PLTA returned -31.99% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PLTA annualized -18.78% vs +18.33% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PLTA or SPY?
PLTA has been the more volatile fund at 140.0% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PLTA -80.0% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both PLTA and SPY?
PLTA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.14, 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, PLTA or SPY?
PLTA yields 1.88% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PLTA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PLTA?
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.