PMJN vs SPY
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - June vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PMJN or SPY?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | PMJN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 7 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.10% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.66% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.1%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,751 | $13,045Best |
| Fund Family | PGIM Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 1, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 2, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
PMJN 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
PMJN vs SPY Performance
PGIM S&P 500 Max Buffer ETF - June (PMJN) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PMJN returned +4.66% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, PMJN is up 3.10% versus a gain of 12.09% 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 12.0% compared with 1.6% for PMJN. 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 -1.1% for PMJN 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PMJN charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PMJN currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PMJN 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, PMJN or SPY?
PMJN has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PMJN or SPY?
Over the past year PMJN returned +4.66% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), PMJN annualized +5.73% vs +22.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PMJN or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 1.6% for PMJN. Worst drawdown: PMJN -1.1% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both PMJN and SPY?
PMJN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, PMJN or SPY?
PMJN yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PMJN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.