SPE vs SPY
Special Opportunities Fund Inc vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPE or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY 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 | SPE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 4.89% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $171M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.33% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 158 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -5.40% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -8.60% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.87% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.84% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -58.5% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,921 | $18,728Best |
| Fund Family | Special Opportunities Fund | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 8, 1993 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 18, 2026 (30.7 years).
SPE 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.
SPE vs SPY Performance
Special Opportunities Fund Inc (SPE) is an ETF from Special Opportunities Fund and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPE returned -8.60% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, SPE is down 5.40% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, SPE compounded at +14.87% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.84% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.77% annualized vs +1.98%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 13.8% for SPE. 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 -58.5% for SPE 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPE charges 4.89% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $489 vs $9 annually, a gap of $480 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPE currently yields 8.33% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 104 holdings in SPE and 504 in SPY, totalling 132.7% and 99.9% of the two funds. That is not enough of SPE to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 244 days apart, SPE as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 104 positions we hold weights for in SPE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 158 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPE | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPLTexas Pacific Land Trust | 3.98% | 0.03% | 3.95% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPE 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, SPE or SPY?
SPE has an expense ratio of 4.89% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $480 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPE or SPY?
Over the past year SPE returned -8.60% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), SPE annualized +1.98% vs +8.77% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPE or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 13.8% for SPE. Worst drawdown: SPE -58.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SPE and SPY?
SPE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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, SPE or SPY?
SPE yields 8.33% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPE?
SPY 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.