SPTU vs SPY
State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPTU or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPTU has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.
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 | SPTU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $14M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.96% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 42 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +2.67% | +13.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.65% | +16.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.3%Best | 13.1% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 7, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
SPTU 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.
SPTU vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Ultra Short T-Bill ETF (SPTU) 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 SPTU returned +3.65% while SPY returned +16.25%. Year to date, SPTU is up 2.67% versus a gain of 13.54% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 0.3% for SPTU. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPTU charges 0.05% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $9 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPTU currently yields 2.96% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in SPTU and 504 in SPY, totalling 0.1% and 99.8% 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 1 positions we hold weights for in SPTU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 42 and 1,515.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPTU 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, SPTU or SPY?
SPTU has an expense ratio of 0.05% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPTU is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPTU or SPY?
Over the past year SPTU returned +3.65% vs +16.25% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPTU or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 0.3% for SPTU.
Should I hold both SPTU and SPY?
SPTU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.01, 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, SPTU or SPY?
SPTU yields 2.96% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPTU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPTU?
SPTU has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.