SPY vs TBLU
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Tortoise Global Water Fund
Which is better, SPY or TBLU?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.9%.
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 | TBLU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.40% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $57M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 3.47% |
| Holdings | 505 | 64 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | -0.26% |
| 1Y Return | +19.97%Best | -2.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +10.49% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.81%Best | +2.62% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -37.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,270Best | $11,380 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 58.9% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Tortoise Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 14, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.5 years).
SPY vs TBLU 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 9.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TBLU Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Tortoise Global Water Fund (TBLU) is an ETF from Tortoise Capital. Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% while TBLU returned -2.55%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.34% versus a loss of 0.26% for TBLU.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +10.49% for TBLU; over five years the annualized figures are +12.81% and +2.62% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.12% annualized vs +8.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TBLU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 15.7% 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 -37.6% for TBLU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TBLU charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $40 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 3.47% for TBLU.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of SPY's money is in holdings TBLU also owns. 42.7% of TBLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 60 in TBLU, against full books of 505 and 64.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 27 positions for TBLU that do not appear in our book for SPY (18.3% of the fund), and 488 for SPY that do not appear in TBLU (99.1%).
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 TBLU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECLEcolab, Inc. | 0.11% | 7.90% | 7.79% |
| AWKAmerican Water Works Co. Inc. | 0.04% | 7.80% | 7.76% |
| XYLXylem,Inc. | 0.04% | 7.71% | 7.67% |
| FERGFerguson Enterprises | 0.07% | 7.59% | 7.52% |
| VLTOVeralto Corp | 0.04% | 4.59% | 4.55% |
| IEXI D E X Corporation | 0.03% | 4.14% | 4.11% |
| PNRPentair Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.02% | 1.80% | 1.78% |
| AOSAo Smith Corp. | 0.01% | 1.21% | 1.20% |
42.7% of TBLU 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 TBLU?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TBLU charges 0.40%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TBLU?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% vs -2.55% for TBLU, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), SPY annualized +14.12% vs +8.80% for TBLU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TBLU?
TBLU has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TBLU -37.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and TBLU?
SPY and TBLU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 TBLU?
42.7% of TBLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 42.7% of TBLU's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 60 in TBLU.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TBLU?
SPY yields 1.01% while TBLU yields 3.47%, so TBLU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TBLU better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.