SPY vs TPIF
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Timothy Plan International ETF
Which is better, SPY or TPIF?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPIF is less concentrated, with 6.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | TPIF |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.62% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $269M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.63% |
| Holdings | 505 | 378 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +9.79% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +18.27% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37%Best | +8.33% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Tie | -34.1%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,728Best | $14,919 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 6.0%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Timothy Plan |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 2, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2019 to Sep 18, 2026 (6.8 years).
SPY vs TPIF 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 6.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TPIF Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Timothy Plan International ETF (TPIF) is an ETF from Timothy Plan. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while TPIF returned +16.08%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 9.79% for TPIF.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +18.27% for TPIF; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and +8.33% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.43% annualized vs +8.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 16.7% for TPIF. 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 -34.1% for TPIF. 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 TPIF charges 0.62%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $62 annually, a gap of $53 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 2.63% for TPIF.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 367 in TPIF, 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 367 in TPIF, against full books of 505 and 378.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 3 positions for TPIF that do not appear in our book for SPY (1.0% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in TPIF (99.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TPIF 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 TPIF?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TPIF charges 0.62%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $53 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TPIF?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +16.08% for TPIF, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SPY annualized +15.43% vs +8.76% for TPIF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TPIF?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 16.7% for TPIF. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TPIF -34.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and TPIF?
SPY and TPIF 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 TPIF?
SPY yields 0.98% while TPIF yields 2.63%, so TPIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TPIF better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPIF is less concentrated, with 6.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.