SPFF vs SPY
Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPFF or SPY?
Preferred Stock 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 | SPFF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $140M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.65% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 51 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.28% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.44% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.73% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.52% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.3%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -50.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,783 | $18,173Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Preferred Stock | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 16, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 17, 2012 to Sep 9, 2026 (14.1 years).
SPFF 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.
SPFF vs SPY Performance
Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF (SPFF) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPFF returned +8.44% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, SPFF is up 4.28% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, SPFF compounded at +8.73% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.52% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.53% annualized vs -0.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 9.3% for SPFF. 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 -50.1% for SPFF and -34.1% 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPFF charges 0.48% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $9 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPFF currently yields 6.65% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SPFF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SPFF, our book for it covers 15.7% 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 9 positions we hold weights for in SPFF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 51 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPFF 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, SPFF or SPY?
SPFF has an expense ratio of 0.48% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPFF or SPY?
Over the past year SPFF returned +8.44% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SPFF annualized -0.82% vs +13.53% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPFF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 9.3% for SPFF. Worst drawdown: SPFF -50.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SPFF and SPY?
SPFF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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, SPFF or SPY?
SPFF yields 6.65% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPFF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPFF?
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.