SPY vs TFLO
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF
Which is better, SPY or TFLO?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | TFLO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.15% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $6.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.78% |
| Holdings | 505 | 10 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | +2.72% |
| 1Y Return | +15.52%Best | +4.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73%Best | +4.61% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53%Best | +3.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6% | 0.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -5.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044Best | $12,091 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 4, 2014 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2014 to Sep 16, 2026 (12.6 years).
SPY vs TFLO 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 TFLO Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Treasury Floating Rate Bond ETF (TFLO) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while TFLO returned +4.00%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 2.72% for TFLO.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.73% per year against +4.61% for TFLO; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +3.87% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.92% annualized vs +1.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 0.7% for TFLO. 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 -5.0% for TFLO. 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 TFLO 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 3.78% for TFLO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 5 in TFLO, totalling 99.9% and 49.6% 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 5 in TFLO, against full books of 505 and 10.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TFLO 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 TFLO?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TFLO charges 0.15%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TFLO?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +4.00% for TFLO, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SPY annualized +12.92% vs +1.55% for TFLO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TFLO?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 0.7% for TFLO. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TFLO -5.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and TFLO?
SPY and TFLO 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 TFLO?
SPY yields 0.98% while TFLO yields 3.78%, so TFLO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TFLO better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.