SPY vs STNC
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Hennessy Sustainable ETF
Which is better, SPY or STNC?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. STNC is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | STNC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $91M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.91% |
| Holdings | 505 | 50 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +9.77% |
| 1Y Return | +19.97%Best | +12.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +12.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.81%Best | +6.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5% | -22.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,270Best | $13,714 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 34.4%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Hennessy Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Mar 15, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 16, 2021 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.5 years).
SPY vs STNC 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs STNC Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Hennessy Sustainable ETF (STNC) is an ETF from Hennessy Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% while STNC returned +12.39%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.34% versus a gain of 9.77% for STNC.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +12.16% for STNC; over five years the annualized figures are +12.81% and +6.52% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.48% annualized vs +7.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.1% for STNC. 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 -22.3% for STNC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while STNC charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 0.91% for STNC.
Holdings Overlap
9.2% of SPY's money is in holdings STNC also owns. 98.5% of STNC's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of STNC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
45 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 47 in STNC, against full books of 505 and 50.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for STNC that do not appear in our book for SPY (0.4% of the fund), and 450 for SPY that do not appear in STNC (90.3%).
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 STNC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.63% | 3.26% | 2.63% |
| HPQHp Inc. | 0.04% | 3.83% | 3.79% |
| PWRQuanta Services, Inc | 0.16% | 3.48% | 3.32% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 2.08% | 0.57% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.03% | 3.55% | 3.52% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 0.15% | 3.42% | 3.27% |
| SBUXStarbucks Corp 2.45 6/26 | 0.18% | 3.33% | 3.15% |
| FDXFedex Corp. | 0.10% | 3.41% | 3.31% |
| CHTRCharter Communications Inc.-Class A | 0.02% | 3.44% | 3.42% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc | 1.27% | 2.14% | 0.87% |
98.5% of STNC 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 STNC?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STNC charges 0.85%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or STNC?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% vs +12.39% for STNC, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SPY annualized +14.48% vs +7.95% for STNC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or STNC?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for STNC. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs STNC -22.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and STNC?
SPY and STNC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 STNC?
98.5% of STNC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.5% of STNC's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 47 in STNC.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or STNC?
SPY yields 1.01% while STNC yields 0.91%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STNC better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. STNC is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.