SPY vs STAX
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Nomura Tax-Free USA Short Term ETF
Which is better, SPY or STAX?
Large Cap Blend against Municipal Bond.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | SPY | STAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $11M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.15% |
| Holdings | 505 | 93 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +0.22% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +0.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8% | 1.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -1.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $17,319Best | $10,833 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Nomura Asset Management Co Ltd |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 28, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.8 years).
SPY vs STAX 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs STAX Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Nomura Tax-Free USA Short Term ETF (STAX) is an ETF from Nomura Asset Management Co Ltd. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while STAX returned +0.52%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 0.22% for STAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 1.8% for STAX. 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 -18.8% for SPY and -1.4% for STAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while STAX charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $29 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.15% for STAX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 22 in STAX, totalling 99.9% and 27.5% 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 22 in STAX, against full books of 505 and 93.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and STAX 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, SPY or STAX?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STAX charges 0.29%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or STAX?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +0.52% for STAX, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or STAX?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 1.8% for STAX. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs STAX -1.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and STAX?
SPY and STAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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, SPY or STAX?
SPY yields 0.98% while STAX yields 3.15%, so STAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STAX better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.