RB vs SPY
ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Buffer ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RB or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 | RB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.27% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,963 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.85% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.49% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.88% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.2%Best | 11.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -2.1%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,663 | $12,586Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 9, 2026 (1.2 years).
RB 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
RB vs SPY Performance
ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Buffer ETF (RB) 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 RB returned +14.49% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, RB is up 6.85% versus a gain of 12.19% 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 11.9% compared with 3.2% for RB. 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 -2.1% for RB 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RB charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RB currently yields 2.27% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.2% of SPY's money is in holdings RB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for RB, our book for it covers 86.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and RB share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 1,949 positions we hold weights for in RB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,963 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RB 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, RB or SPY?
RB has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RB or SPY?
Over the past year RB returned +14.49% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RB annualized +13.68% vs +21.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RB or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 3.2% for RB. Worst drawdown: RB -2.1% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both RB and SPY?
RB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RB and SPY?
At least 2.2% of SPY's money is in holdings RB also owns. Our book for RB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 1,949 positions we hold weights for in RB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RB or SPY?
RB yields 2.27% while SPY yields 0.98%, so RB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RB?
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.