PNI vs SPY
PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, PNI or SPY?
Municipal New York against Large Cap Blend.
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 | PNI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.31% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $190M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.70% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 148 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.89% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.77% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.98% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -6.59% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.8% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.2% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,112 | $18,728Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal New York | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2002 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2002 to Sep 18, 2026 (24.2 years).
PNI 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.
PNI vs SPY Performance
PIMCO New York Municipal Income Fund II (PNI) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year PNI returned -2.77% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, PNI is down 2.89% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, PNI compounded at +2.98% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -6.59% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.18% annualized vs -2.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PNI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.8% compared with 14.8% 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 -64.2% for PNI 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 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PNI charges 1.31% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $131 vs $9 annually, a gap of $122 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PNI currently yields 4.70% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 57 holdings in PNI and 504 in SPY, totalling 69.0% 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 154 days apart, PNI as of Mar 31, 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 57 positions we hold weights for in PNI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 148 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PNI 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, PNI or SPY?
PNI has an expense ratio of 1.31% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $122 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PNI or SPY?
Over the past year PNI returned -2.77% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), PNI annualized -2.32% vs +9.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PNI or SPY?
PNI has been the more volatile fund at 17.8% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: PNI -64.2% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both PNI and SPY?
PNI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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, PNI or SPY?
PNI yields 4.70% while SPY yields 0.98%, so PNI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than PNI?
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.