SPY vs TBFC
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs The Brinsmere Fund - Conservative ETF
Which is better, SPY or TBFC?
Large Cap Blend against Equity-oriented Balanced.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.3%.
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 | TBFC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.44% |
| AUM | $777.9B | $350M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 3.18% |
| Holdings | 1,011 | 54 |
| YTD Return | +8.47%Best | +1.49% |
| 1Y Return | +10.88%Best | +3.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.41% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.90% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0% | 6.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -10.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $15,971Best | $12,111 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9%Best | 71.3% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Brinsmere Fund |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Equity-oriented Balanced |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 12, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 16, 2024 to Nov 6, 2026 (2.8 years).
SPY vs TBFC 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TBFC Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and The Brinsmere Fund - Conservative ETF (TBFC) is an ETF from Brinsmere Fund. Over the past year SPY returned +10.88% while TBFC returned +3.46%. Year to date, SPY is up 8.47% versus a gain of 1.49% for TBFC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 6.6% for TBFC. 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 -10.0% for TBFC. 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 TBFC charges 0.44%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $44 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.00% against 3.18% for TBFC.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 25 in TBFC, totalling 100.1% and 99.8% 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 25 in TBFC, against full books of 1,011 and 54.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 25 positions for TBFC that do not appear in our book for SPY (99.8% of the fund), and 499 for SPY that do not appear in TBFC (99.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TBFC 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 TBFC?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TBFC charges 0.44%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TBFC?
Over the past year SPY returned +10.88% vs +3.46% for TBFC, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TBFC?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 6.6% for TBFC. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs TBFC -10.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and TBFC?
SPY and TBFC 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TBFC?
SPY yields 1.00% while TBFC yields 3.18%, so TBFC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TBFC better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 71.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.