SPY vs TBIL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs F/m US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF
Which is better, SPY or TBIL?
Large Cap Blend against Short Term High Quality.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | TBIL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.15% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $7.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 4.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +2.53% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +3.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +4.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 0.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -0.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $18,823Best | $11,968 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | US Benchmark Series |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Short Term High Quality |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 8, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 18, 2022 to Sep 18, 2026 (4.1 years).
SPY vs TBIL 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 4.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TBIL Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and F/m US Treasury 3 Month Bill ETF (TBIL) is an ETF from US Benchmark Series. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while TBIL returned +3.72%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 2.53% for TBIL.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +4.48% for TBIL. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +16.68% annualized vs +4.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 0.3% for TBIL. 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 -0.1% for TBIL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TBIL charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $15 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 4.00% for TBIL.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TBIL 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 TBIL?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TBIL charges 0.15%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TBIL?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +3.72% for TBIL, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SPY annualized +16.68% vs +4.48% for TBIL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TBIL?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 0.3% for TBIL. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs TBIL -0.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and TBIL?
SPY and TBIL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.02, 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 TBIL?
SPY yields 0.98% while TBIL yields 4.00%, so TBIL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TBIL better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.