SPY vs THYF
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs T. Rowe Price US High Yield ETF
Which is better, SPY or THYF?
Large Cap Blend against High Yield Bond.
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 | THYF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $844M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 6.89% |
| Holdings | 505 | 107 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +1.31% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +2.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +7.42% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0% | 5.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -5.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $20,963Best | $13,311 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | T.Rowe Price |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | High Yield Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 25, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2022 to Sep 18, 2026 (3.9 years).
SPY vs THYF 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SPY vs THYF Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and T. Rowe Price US High Yield ETF (THYF) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while THYF returned +2.71%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 1.31% for THYF.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +7.42% for THYF. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +20.90% annualized vs +7.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.0% compared with 5.6% for THYF. 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 -5.2% for THYF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while THYF 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 6.89% for THYF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 56 in THYF, totalling 99.9% and 48.2% 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 56 in THYF, against full books of 505 and 107.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and THYF 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 THYF?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while THYF charges 0.50%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or THYF?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +2.71% for THYF, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SPY annualized +20.90% vs +7.61% for THYF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or THYF?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 5.6% for THYF. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs THYF -5.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and THYF?
SPY and THYF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 THYF?
SPY yields 0.98% while THYF yields 6.89%, so THYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THYF 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.