SPY vs TOTR
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs T. Rowe Price Total Return ETF
Which is better, SPY or TOTR?
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 | TOTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.31% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $571M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 5.36% |
| Holdings | 505 | 1,222 |
| YTD Return | +12.47%Best | -1.02% |
| 1Y Return | +17.51%Best | -0.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18%Best | +4.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | -0.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 6.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5% | -19.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $9,704 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | T.Rowe Price |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 28, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2021 to Sep 11, 2026 (5 years).
SPY vs TOTR 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 5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TOTR Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and T. Rowe Price Total Return ETF (TOTR) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while TOTR returned -0.34%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a loss of 1.02% for TOTR.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.18% per year against +4.41% for TOTR; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and -0.60% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 6.5% for TOTR. 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 -24.5% for SPY and -19.6% for TOTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TOTR charges 0.31%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $31 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 5.36% for TOTR.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 579 in TOTR, totalling 100.0% and 64.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, SPY as of Aug 4, 2026 and TOTR as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 579 in TOTR, against full books of 505 and 1,222.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TOTR 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 TOTR?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TOTR charges 0.31%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TOTR?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs -0.34% for TOTR, 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 TOTR?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 6.5% for TOTR. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs TOTR -19.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and TOTR?
SPY and TOTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 TOTR?
SPY yields 0.98% while TOTR yields 5.36%, so TOTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TOTR 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.