SKYU vs SPY
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Cloud Computing ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SKYU or SPY?
Trading-Inverse Equity against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SKYU led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 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 | SKYU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.56% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 67 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +34.89%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +17.90%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.34%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.29% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 53.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,856 | $18,205Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Trading-Inverse Equity | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 19, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2021 to Sep 10, 2026 (5.6 years).
SKYU 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
SKYU vs SPY Performance
ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Cloud Computing ETF (SKYU) 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 SKYU returned +17.90% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, SKYU is up 34.89% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, SKYU compounded at +35.34% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.29% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.31% annualized vs +2.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SKYU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 53.0% compared with 15.2% 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 -83.0% for SKYU 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SKYU 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, SKYU currently yields 0.56% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 16.9% of SPY's money is in holdings SKYU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SKYU, our book for it covers 53.1% 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 SKYU share little of their money.
22 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in SKYU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 67 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SKYU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.05% | 5.50% | 3.45% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.91% | 4.08% | 2.17% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 1.80% | 3.33% | 1.53% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock | 2.34% | 0.30% | 2.04% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.27% | 0.72% | 0.55% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 1.50% | 0.33% | 1.17% |
| ORCLOracle Corp. | 1.21% | 0.37% | 0.84% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 1.17% | 0.10% | 1.07% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc. | 1.04% | 0.20% | 0.84% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc. | 0.96% | 0.23% | 0.73% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SKYU 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, SKYU or SPY?
SKYU 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, SKYU or SPY?
Over the past year SKYU returned +17.90% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SKYU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SKYU annualized +2.90% vs +14.31% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SKYU or SPY?
SKYU has been the more volatile fund at 53.0% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SKYU -83.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both SKYU and SPY?
SKYU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 SKYU and SPY?
At least 16.9% of SPY's money is in holdings SKYU also owns. Our book for SKYU is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in SKYU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SKYU or SPY?
SKYU yields 0.56% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SKYU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SKYU led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.