SOLR vs SPY
Guinness Atkinson Sustainable Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SOLR or SPY?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SOLR led over 1Y, SPY over 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 | SOLR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.59% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 30 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.0% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5.6 years | $14,954 | $22,173Best |
| Fund Family | SmartETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 11, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 87 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SOLR has data through Jun 26, 2026 and SPY through Sep 21, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 12, 2020 to Jun 26, 2026 (5.6 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -38.0% for SOLR 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SOLR charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SOLR currently yields 0.59% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of SPY's money is in holdings SOLR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SOLR, our book for it covers 94.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, SOLR as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
6 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in SOLR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 30 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SOLR 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, SOLR or SPY?
SOLR has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SOLR or SPY?
SOLR has been the more volatile fund at 23.0% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SOLR -38.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both SOLR and SPY?
SOLR 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOLR or SPY?
SOLR yields 0.59% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SOLR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SOLR led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.