SPY vs TINS
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Franklin Templeton International Insights ETF
Which is better, SPY or TINS?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. TINS is less concentrated, with 34.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | TINS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $811.2B | $6M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.21% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 54 |
| YTD Return | +13.54%Best | +8.41% |
| 1Y Return | +16.25%Best | +13.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.72% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.95% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 14.0% |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2% | 34.0%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 21, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SPY vs TINS 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 TINS Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Franklin Templeton International Insights ETF (TINS) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% while TINS returned +13.48%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.54% versus a gain of 8.41% for TINS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TINS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.0% compared with 13.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TINS charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $55 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.21% for TINS.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings TINS also owns. 1.7% of TINS's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
TINS and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 49 in TINS, against full books of 1,515 and 54.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for TINS that do not appear in our book for SPY (5.7% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in TINS (99.2%).
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 TINS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRH:LNCrh Plc Shs | 0.09% | 1.67% | 1.58% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TINS 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 TINS?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TINS charges 0.55%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TINS?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% vs +13.48% for TINS, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TINS?
TINS has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both SPY and TINS?
SPY and TINS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 TINS?
1.7% of TINS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.7% of TINS's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 49 in TINS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TINS?
SPY yields 0.98% while TINS yields 0.21%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TINS better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. TINS is less concentrated, with 34.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.