SLTY vs SPY
YieldMax Ultra Short Option Income Strategy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SLTY or SPY?
Opposite sides of the same exposure.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two move opposite each other, correlation -0.72, so holding both offsets the exposure while paying both fees.
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 | SLTY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 102.18% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 103 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -3.85% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.26% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -20.9% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $8,214 | $12,169Best |
| Fund Family | YieldMax ETF | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 20, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 21, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.1 years).
SLTY 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
SLTY vs SPY Performance
YieldMax Ultra Short Option Income Strategy ETF (SLTY) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SLTY returned -7.26% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, SLTY is down 3.85% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 12.9% 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 -20.9% for SLTY and -8.9% 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 -0.72. They move opposite each other. Holding both offsets the exposure rather than spreading it, while paying both funds' fees.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLTY charges 1.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $125 vs $9 annually, a gap of $116 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SLTY currently yields 102.18% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SLTY also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SLTY, our book for it covers 39.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
They hold the same names on opposite sides, so owning both offsets the exposure rather than doubling it.
16 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in SLTY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 103 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SLTY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSLATesla Inc | -3.01% | 1.52% | 4.53% |
| WYNNWynn Resorts Ltd. | -1.87% | 0.01% | 1.88% |
| HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | -2.03% | 0.11% | 2.14% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | -2.11% | 0.10% | 2.21% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | -2.64% | 0.13% | 2.77% |
| ALGNAlign Technology Inc. | -2.80% | 0.02% | 2.82% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | -3.52% | 0.23% | 3.75% |
| TGTTarget Corp Common Stock Usd.0833 | -3.57% | 0.11% | 3.68% |
| CARRCarrier Global Corp Common Stock Usd.01 | -3.74% | 0.07% | 3.81% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | -4.21% | 0.32% | 4.53% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SLTY 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, SLTY or SPY?
SLTY has an expense ratio of 1.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $116 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SLTY or SPY?
Over the past year SLTY returned -7.26% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SLTY annualized -16.38% vs +19.54% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLTY or SPY?
SLTY has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 12.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SLTY -20.9% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both SLTY and SPY?
SLTY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.72, so they move opposite each other. Holding both offsets the exposure rather than spreading it, and pays both funds' fees on the way. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SLTY and SPY?
At least 3.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SLTY also owns. Our book for SLTY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 29 positions we hold weights for in SLTY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SLTY or SPY?
SLTY yields 102.18% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SLTY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SLTY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two move opposite each other, correlation -0.72, so holding both offsets the exposure while paying both fees. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.