SPY vs TAGS
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Teucrium Agricultural Fund ETF
Which is better, SPY or TAGS?
Large Cap Blend against Agriculture.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, TAGS over 1Y.
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 | TAGS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.00% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $22M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 6 |
| YTD Return | +12.09% | +21.74%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.29% | +17.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | -3.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37%Best | +1.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -76.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,728Best | $10,768 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Teucrium |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Agriculture |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Mar 28, 2012 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 28, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.5 years).
SPY vs TAGS 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 14.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TAGS Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Teucrium Agricultural Fund ETF (TAGS) is an ETF from Teucrium. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while TAGS returned +17.25%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 21.74% for TAGS.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against -3.66% for TAGS; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and +1.49% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.97% annualized vs -3.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TAGS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 14.1% 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 -76.4% for TAGS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.08. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TAGS charges 1.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $100 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for TAGS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 4 in TAGS, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 4 in TAGS, against full books of 505 and 6.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TAGS 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 TAGS?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TAGS charges 1.00%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TAGS?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +17.25% for TAGS, so TAGS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SPY annualized +12.97% vs -3.95% for TAGS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TAGS?
TAGS has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TAGS -76.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and TAGS?
SPY and TAGS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.08, 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 TAGS?
SPY yields 0.98% while TAGS yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TAGS better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, TAGS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.