SPY vs STK
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund
Which is better, SPY or STK?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, STK over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | STK |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.13% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $831M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.36% |
| Holdings | 505 | 75 |
| YTD Return | +12.89% | +48.36%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.01% | +62.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.46% | +37.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.01% | +20.76%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 22.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -42.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,433 | $25,681Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 41.5% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Columbia Threadneedle Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 25, 2009 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 25, 2009 to Sep 24, 2026 (16.8 years).
SPY vs STK 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 16.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs STK Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Columbia Seligman Premium Technology Growth Fund (STK) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Over the past year SPY returned +17.01% while STK returned +62.36%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.89% versus a gain of 48.36% for STK.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.46% per year against +37.93% for STK; over five years the annualized figures are +13.01% and +20.76% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +9.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
STK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% compared with 14.4% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -42.8% for STK. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while STK charges 1.13%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $113 annually, a gap of $104 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.36% for STK.
Holdings Overlap
39.5% of SPY's money is in holdings STK also owns. 67.3% of STK's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
38 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 62 in STK, against full books of 505 and 75.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 20 positions for STK that do not appear in our book for SPY (24.8% of the fund), and 459 for SPY that do not appear in STK (59.9%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in STK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 4.79% | 3.22% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 3.03% | 4.23% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 3.17% | 2.49% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 5.36% | 2.70% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 3.90% | 0.91% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 0.55% | 5.05% | 4.50% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 0.64% | 3.15% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.39% | 1.95% | 0.44% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 0.24% | 3.01% | 2.77% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.94% | 2.23% | 1.29% |
67.3% of STK is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or STK?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STK charges 1.13%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $104 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or STK?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.01% vs +62.36% for STK, so STK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SPY annualized +12.65% vs +9.43% for STK. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or STK?
STK has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs STK -42.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and STK?
SPY and STK have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and STK?
67.3% of STK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 67.3% of STK's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 62 in STK.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or STK?
SPY yields 0.98% while STK yields 3.36%, so STK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STK better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, STK over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.