SPY vs SPYC

SPY vs SPYC

Which is better, SPY or SPYC?

SPY has been ahead.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPY

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

MetricSPYSPYC
Expense Ratio0.09%Best0.53%
AUM$804.7B$115M
Dividend Yield0.98%0.86%
Holdings50524
YTD Return+12.09%Best+7.84%
1Y Return+16.29%Best+8.61%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.20%Best+17.98%
5Y Return (annualized)+13.37%Best+9.23%
Volatility (annualized)15.3%Best16.5%
Max Drawdown-24.5%Best-28.5%
$10,000 over 5 years$18,728Best$15,549
Fund FamilyState Street Investment ManagementSimplify Exchange Traded Funds
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 22, 1993Sep 3, 2020

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 4, 2020 to Sep 18, 2026 (6 years).

SPY vs SPYC 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 covers the 6 years both funds cover.

SPY vs SPYC Performance

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Simplify US Equity PLUS Convexity ETF (SPYC) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while SPYC returned +8.61%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 7.84% for SPYC.

Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +17.98% for SPYC; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and +9.23% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.56% annualized vs +12.00%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPYC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% 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 -24.5% for SPY and -28.5% for SPYC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SPY charges 0.09% per year while SPYC charges 0.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $53 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.86% for SPYC.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in SPYC, totalling 99.9% and 0.0% 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 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1 in SPYC, against full books of 505 and 24.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of SPY and SPYC you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

SPYSPYC

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPY or SPYC?

SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPYC charges 0.53%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPY or SPYC?

Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +8.61% for SPYC, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SPY annualized +15.56% vs +12.00% for SPYC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SPY or SPYC?

SPYC has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs SPYC -28.5%.

Should I hold both SPY and SPYC?

SPY and SPYC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SPYC?

SPY yields 0.98% while SPYC yields 0.86%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPYC better than SPY?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.