SPY vs SPYH
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs NEOS S&P 500 Hedged Equity Income ETF
Quick Verdict
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 505 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPY | SPYH | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.68% | |
| AUM | $821.1B | $30M | |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 8.36% | |
| Holdings | 505 | 490 | |
| YTD Return | +13.47% | +2.67% | |
| 1Y Return | +20.57% | +7.47% | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.83% | - | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - | |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 7.8% | |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -7.7% | |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | NEOS | |
| Category | Equity | Equity | |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 2, 2025 |
SPY vs SPYH Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and NEOS S&P 500 Hedged Equity Income ETF (SPYH) is a ETF from NEOS. Over the past year SPY returned +20.57% while SPYH returned +7.47%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.47% versus a gain of 2.67% for SPYH.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 7.8% for SPYH. 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 -56.5% for SPY and -7.7% for SPYH. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. 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 SPYH charges 0.68%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $68 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 8.36% for SPYH.
Holdings Overlap
SPY and SPYH share 466 holdings out of 513 unique holdings combined, representing a 89.4% weight overlap.
High overlap means holding both may not provide much additional diversification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or SPYH?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPYH charges 0.68%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $59 per year of difference.
Which performed better, SPY or SPYH?
Over the past year SPY returned +20.57% vs +7.47% for SPYH, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPY annualized +8.83% vs +16.46% for SPYH. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Which is riskier, SPY or SPYH?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 7.8% for SPYH. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs SPYH -7.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and SPYH?
SPY and SPYH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. Holding both adds little diversification - most investors pick one, usually on fees or the specific index tracked.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and SPYH?
SPY and SPYH share 466 common holdings with a 89.4% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 513 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SPYH?
SPY yields 1.01% while SPYH yields 8.36%, so SPYH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
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