SMCY vs SPY
YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SMCY or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | SMCY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $149M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 134.47% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 18 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.99% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.47% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 70.6% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $6,537 | $14,004Best |
| Fund Family | YieldMax ETF | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 11, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 12, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2 years).
SMCY 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 2 years both funds cover.
SMCY vs SPY Performance
YieldMax SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF (SMCY) 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 SMCY returned -17.47% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SMCY is up 9.99% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMCY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 70.6% compared with 12.7% 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 -64.8% for SMCY 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMCY charges 1.01% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $9 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMCY currently yields 134.47% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in SMCY and 504 in SPY, totalling 22.8% and 100.0% 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 2 positions we hold weights for in SMCY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 18 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMCY 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, SMCY or SPY?
SMCY has an expense ratio of 1.01% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMCY or SPY?
Over the past year SMCY returned -17.47% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMCY annualized -19.15% vs +18.34% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMCY or SPY?
SMCY has been the more volatile fund at 70.6% annualized versus 12.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SMCY -64.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SMCY and SPY?
SMCY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, SMCY or SPY?
SMCY yields 134.47% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SMCY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SMCY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.