SPY vs TENJ

SPY vs TENJ

Which is better, SPY or TENJ?

SPY has been ahead.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns (1Y): SPY

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

MetricSPYTENJ
Expense Ratio0.09%Best0.50%
AUM$804.7B$42M
Dividend Yield0.98%0.23%
Holdings5058
YTD Return+12.09%Best+10.79%
1Y Return+16.29%Best+13.01%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.20%-
5Y Return (annualized)+13.37%-
Fund FamilyState Street Investment ManagementiShares by BlackRock (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 22, 1993Oct 21, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

SPY vs TENJ 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 TENJ Performance

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Jun ETF (TENJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while TENJ returned +13.01%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 10.79% for TENJ.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SPY charges 0.09% per year while TENJ charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $50 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.23% for TENJ.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 2 in TENJ, totalling 99.9% and 99.5% 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 2 in TENJ, against full books of 505 and 8.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of SPY and TENJ you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

SPYTENJ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPY or TENJ?

SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TENJ charges 0.50%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPY or TENJ?

Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +13.01% for TENJ, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TENJ?

SPY yields 0.98% while TENJ yields 0.23%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is TENJ better than SPY?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.