SPY vs SYSB
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs iShares Systematic Bond ETF
Which is better, SPY or SYSB?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | SYSB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.25% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $1.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 4.62% |
| Holdings | 505 | 841 |
| YTD Return | +11.45%Best | -4.51% |
| 1Y Return | +15.87%Best | -4.37% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.93%Best | +0.92% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.59%Best | -3.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 4.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -22.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,093Best | $8,460 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 24, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2015 to Sep 15, 2026 (11.6 years).
SPY vs SYSB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs SYSB Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Systematic Bond ETF (SYSB) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +15.87% while SYSB returned -4.37%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.45% versus a loss of 4.51% for SYSB.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.93% per year against +0.92% for SYSB; over five years the annualized figures are +12.59% and -3.29% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.40% annualized vs -1.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 4.6% for SYSB. 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 -22.4% for SYSB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SYSB charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $25 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 4.62% for SYSB.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings SYSB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for SYSB, our book for it covers 76.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 595 in SYSB, against full books of 505 and 841.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and SYSB 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 SYSB?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SYSB charges 0.25%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or SYSB?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.87% vs -4.37% for SYSB, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SPY annualized +12.40% vs -1.30% for SYSB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or SYSB?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 4.6% for SYSB. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs SYSB -22.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and SYSB?
SPY and SYSB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 SYSB?
SPY yields 0.98% while SYSB yields 4.62%, so SYSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SYSB better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.