SCYB vs SPY
Schwab High Yield Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCYB or SPY?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SCYB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | SCYB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $2.8B | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.89% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,843 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -0.16% | +13.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.01% | +16.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.13% | +23.72%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.7%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.2 years | $12,395 | $18,008Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 11, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 11, 2023 to Oct 2, 2026 (3.2 years).
SCYB 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 3.2 years both funds cover.
SCYB vs SPY Performance
Schwab High Yield Bond ETF (SCYB) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SCYB returned +1.01% while SPY returned +16.25%. Year to date, SCYB is down 0.16% versus a gain of 13.54% for SPY.
Over three years, SCYB compounded at +8.13% per year against +23.72% 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 12.6% compared with 4.7% for SCYB. 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 -4.9% for SCYB and -18.8% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCYB charges 0.03% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCYB currently yields 6.89% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SCYB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SCYB, our book for it covers 19.4% 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 SCYB share little of their money.
28 positions in common, counted across the 335 positions we hold weights for in SCYB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,843 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCYB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSCvs Health Corp. | 0.12% | 0.19% | 0.07% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 0.17% | 0.09% | 0.08% |
| SATS'echostar Communications Corp. Class 'a'' | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
| URIUnited Rentals Inc. | 0.12% | 0.09% | 0.03% |
| NRGNrg Energy | 0.15% | 0.03% | 0.12% |
| SQBlock Inc | 0.12% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| DVATotal Renal Care Holdings | 0.16% | 0.01% | 0.15% |
| IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| PCGPg&E Corp. | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| UALUnited Airlines Holdings Inc. | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCYB 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, SCYB or SPY?
SCYB has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. SCYB is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCYB or SPY?
Over the past year SCYB returned +1.01% vs +16.25% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCYB or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 4.7% for SCYB. Worst drawdown: SCYB -4.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SCYB and SPY?
SCYB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 SCYB and SPY?
At least 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SCYB also owns. Our book for SCYB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 28 positions in common, counted across the 335 positions we hold weights for in SCYB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCYB or SPY?
SCYB yields 6.89% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCYB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCYB?
SCYB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.