ROBO vs SPY
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ROBO or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROBO led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 17.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | ROBO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.37% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 80 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.81% | +13.78%Best |
| 1Y Return | +28.00%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.87% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.89% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.5% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,531 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Robo Global | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 22, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2013 to Sep 3, 2026 (12.9 years).
ROBO 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 12.9 years both funds cover.
ROBO vs SPY Performance
ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is an ETF from Robo Global and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ROBO returned +28.00% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, ROBO is up 12.81% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, ROBO compounded at +13.87% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.89% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.87% annualized vs +9.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROBO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 14.5% 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 -43.6% for ROBO 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROBO 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, ROBO currently yields 0.37% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
23.2% of ROBO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ROBO also owns.
ROBO and SPY share little of their money.
17 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in ROBO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 80 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 479 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ROBO (88.9% of the fund), and 17 for ROBO that do not appear in SPY (21.6%).
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 ROBO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 1.41% | 7.71% | 6.30% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.02% | 1.38% | 0.36% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc. | 1.72% | 0.20% | 1.52% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 1.86% | 0.03% | 1.83% |
| EMREmerson Electric Co. | 1.73% | 0.13% | 1.60% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 1.71% | 0.09% | 1.62% |
| ROKRockwell Automation | 1.69% | 0.07% | 1.62% |
| NDSNNordson Corp | 1.61% | 0.02% | 1.59% |
| DEDeere & Co Sedol 2261203 | 1.35% | 0.23% | 1.12% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 1.46% | 0.08% | 1.38% |
23.2% of ROBO 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, ROBO or SPY?
ROBO 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, ROBO or SPY?
Over the past year ROBO returned +28.00% vs +21.44% for SPY, so ROBO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), ROBO annualized +9.52% vs +12.87% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROBO or SPY?
ROBO has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ROBO -43.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ROBO and SPY?
ROBO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 ROBO and SPY?
23.2% of ROBO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.6% of SPY's is in holdings ROBO also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 79 positions we hold weights for in ROBO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ROBO or SPY?
ROBO yields 0.37% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ROBO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROBO led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ROBO is less concentrated, with 17.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.