RTAI vs SPY
Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RTAI or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.8%.
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 | RTAI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 4.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $18M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 15 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -7.69% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.90% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.10% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.49% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,373 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 99.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Rareview Capital | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2020 to Sep 18, 2026 (5.9 years).
RTAI 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 5.9 years both funds cover.
RTAI vs SPY Performance
Rareview Tax Advantaged Income ETF (RTAI) is an ETF from Rareview Capital and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year RTAI returned -6.90% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, RTAI is down 7.69% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, RTAI compounded at +5.10% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -3.49% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.92% annualized vs -0.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 13.8% for RTAI. 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 -34.3% for RTAI and -24.5% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RTAI charges 4.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $459 vs $9 annually, a gap of $450 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RTAI currently yields 4.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 10 holdings in RTAI and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.8% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 10 positions we hold weights for in RTAI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 15 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for RTAI (99.3% of the fund), and 10 for RTAI that do not appear in SPY (99.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RTAI 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, RTAI or SPY?
RTAI has an expense ratio of 4.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $450 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RTAI or SPY?
Over the past year RTAI returned -6.90% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), RTAI annualized -0.29% vs +15.92% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RTAI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 13.8% for RTAI. Worst drawdown: RTAI -34.3% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both RTAI and SPY?
RTAI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, RTAI or SPY?
RTAI yields 4.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so RTAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RTAI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.