ROM vs SPY
ProShares Ultra Technology vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ROM or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROM 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 | ROM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 90 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +55.05%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +71.06%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +52.13%Best | +21.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.89%Best | +13.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 41.8% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,905Best | $18,424 |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 30, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 17, 2026 (19.6 years).
ROM 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.
ROM vs SPY Performance
ProShares Ultra Technology (ROM) 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 ROM returned +71.06% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, ROM is up 55.05% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, ROM compounded at +52.13% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +21.89% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, ROM has the edge at +23.94% annualized vs +9.25%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ROM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.8% compared with 15.5% 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 -83.8% for ROM 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROM 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, ROM currently yields 0.06% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 37.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ROM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ROM, our book for it covers 61.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
72 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in ROM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 90 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ROM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.37% | 8.01% | 0.36% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.29% | 7.26% | 0.03% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.90% | 5.66% | 0.24% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.75% | 2.66% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.33% | 1.60% | 0.73% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.29% | 1.14% | 1.15% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.69% | 0.67% | 1.02% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.67% | 0.66% | 1.01% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.64% | 0.63% | 1.01% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 1.44% | 0.55% | 0.89% |
37.6% of SPY is already inside ROM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ROM or SPY?
ROM 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, ROM or SPY?
Over the past year ROM returned +71.06% vs +16.97% for SPY, so ROM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), ROM annualized +23.94% vs +9.25% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROM or SPY?
ROM has been the more volatile fund at 41.8% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ROM -83.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ROM and SPY?
ROM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 ROM and SPY?
At least 37.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ROM also owns. Our book for ROM is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 72 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in ROM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ROM or SPY?
ROM yields 0.06% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ROM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ROM 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.