SPY vs SYLD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF
Which is better, SPY or SYLD?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SYLD over 1Y. SYLD is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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 | SYLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $1.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.69% |
| Holdings | 505 | 100 |
| YTD Return | +12.99% | +16.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.73% | +19.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.52%Best | +11.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.07%Best | +8.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 19.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -45.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,481Best | $14,837 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 14.8%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Cambria Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | May 13, 2013 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2013 to Sep 23, 2026 (13.4 years).
SPY vs SYLD 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs SYLD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Cambria Shareholder Yield ETF (SYLD) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management. Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% while SYLD returned +19.94%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.99% versus a gain of 16.33% for SYLD.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.52% per year against +11.66% for SYLD; over five years the annualized figures are +13.07% and +8.21% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.81% annualized vs +12.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SYLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% 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 -45.4% for SYLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SYLD charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $59 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.69% for SYLD.
Holdings Overlap
4.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SYLD also owns. 40.5% of SYLD's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
40 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 99 in SYLD, against full books of 505 and 100.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 59 positions for SYLD that do not appear in our book for SPY (59.3% of the fund), and 458 for SPY that do not appear in SYLD (95.0%).
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 SYLD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.04% | 1.08% | 0.04% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 0.17% | 1.39% | 1.22% |
| VLOValero Energy | 0.16% | 1.36% | 1.20% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 0.20% | 1.22% | 1.02% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.25% | 1.13% | 0.88% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.32% | 1.00% | 0.68% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 0.25% | 1.06% | 0.81% |
| FOXAFox Corp. Class A | 0.02% | 1.23% | 1.21% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 0.28% | 0.95% | 0.67% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 0.14% | 1.08% | 0.94% |
40.5% of SYLD 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 SYLD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SYLD charges 0.59%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or SYLD?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% vs +19.94% for SYLD, so SYLD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SPY annualized +12.81% vs +12.05% for SYLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or SYLD?
SYLD has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs SYLD -45.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and SYLD?
SPY and SYLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 SYLD?
40.5% of SYLD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 40.5% of SYLD's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 99 in SYLD.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SYLD?
SPY yields 0.98% while SYLD yields 1.69%, so SYLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SYLD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SYLD over 1Y. SYLD is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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.