SPY vs STRV
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Strive 500 ETF
Which is better, SPY or STRV?
Nearly the same fund. STRV costs less.
STRV has a lower expense ratio. STRV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. STRV is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | STRV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.05% |
| Holdings | 505 | 507 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 13.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -19.0% |
| $10,000 over 3.7 years | $19,980 | $20,066Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 36.2%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Strive Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 15, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 101 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPY has data through Sep 14, 2026 and STRV through Jun 5, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 16, 2022 to Jun 5, 2026 (3.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
STRV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 13.7% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -19.0% for STRV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 1.00. 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 STRV charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $5 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.05% for STRV.
Holdings Overlap
95.8% of SPY's money is in holdings STRV also owns. 94.9% of STRV's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside STRV. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, SPY as of Sep 1, 2026 and STRV as of Mar 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
418 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 496 in STRV, against full books of 505 and 507.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 61 positions for STRV that do not appear in our book for SPY (3.5% of the fund), and 82 for SPY that do not appear in STRV (3.8%).
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 STRV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 7.33% | 0.68% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 6.58% | 0.68% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 4.88% | 0.78% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 3.62% | 0.17% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 3.06% | 0.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 2.59% | 0.07% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.39% | 2.43% | 0.04% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.93% | 2.24% | 0.31% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 1.98% | 0.46% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 1.45% | 0.05% |
95.8% of SPY is already inside STRV.
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 STRV?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STRV charges 0.05%. STRV is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or STRV?
STRV has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 13.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs STRV -19.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and STRV?
SPY and STRV have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and STRV?
95.8% of SPY's money is in holdings STRV also owns. 94.9% of STRV's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 418 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 496 in STRV.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or STRV?
SPY yields 0.98% while STRV yields 1.05%, so STRV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STRV better than SPY?
STRV has a lower expense ratio. STRV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. STRV is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.