SPAB vs SPY
State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPAB or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPAB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 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 | SPAB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $10.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.12% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 8,339 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.36% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.99% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.01% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.57% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.4%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -19.5%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,718 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 23, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 30, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.3 years).
SPAB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPAB vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Aggregate Bond ETF (SPAB) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPAB returned -0.99% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, SPAB is down 1.36% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, SPAB compounded at +4.01% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.57% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.02% annualized vs +0.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 4.4% for SPAB. 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 -19.5% for SPAB and -56.5% 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 0.23. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPAB 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, SPAB currently yields 4.12% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SPAB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SPAB, our book for it covers 7.6% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in SPAB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 8,339 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPAB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TMUST-Mobile Usa, Inc. 3.875% 15-Apr-2030 | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPAB 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, SPAB or SPY?
SPAB has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPAB is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPAB or SPY?
Over the past year SPAB returned -0.99% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SPAB annualized +0.64% vs +9.02% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPAB or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 4.4% for SPAB. Worst drawdown: SPAB -19.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SPAB and SPY?
SPAB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.23, 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, SPAB or SPY?
SPAB yields 4.12% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPAB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPAB?
SPAB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.