SPY vs TPLC
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF
Which is better, SPY or TPLC?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. TPLC is less concentrated, with 6.5% 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 | TPLC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.52% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $311M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.82% |
| Holdings | 505 | 271 |
| YTD Return | +13.82%Best | +7.60% |
| 1Y Return | +16.96%Best | +7.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.97%Best | +13.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.73%Best | +7.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -38.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,027Best | $14,571 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 6.5%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Timothy Plan |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | May 5, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 1, 2019 to Sep 21, 2026 (7.4 years).
SPY vs TPLC 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 7.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TPLC Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Timothy Plan US Large/Mid Cap Core ETF (TPLC) is an ETF from Timothy Plan. Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% while TPLC returned +7.40%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.82% versus a gain of 7.60% for TPLC.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.97% per year against +13.29% for TPLC; over five years the annualized figures are +13.73% and +7.82% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.25% annualized vs +10.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TPLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 16.4% for SPY. 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 -38.1% for TPLC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TPLC charges 0.52%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $52 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.82% for TPLC.
Holdings Overlap
20.6% of SPY's money is in holdings TPLC also owns. 77.5% of TPLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of TPLC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
199 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 268 in TPLC, against full books of 505 and 271.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 63 positions for TPLC that do not appear in our book for SPY (19.9% of the fund), and 300 for SPY that do not appear in TPLC (78.9%).
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 TPLC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 0.25% | 2.41% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.63% | 0.53% | 0.10% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 0.45% | 0.63% | 0.18% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.63% | 0.28% | 0.35% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.26% | 0.62% | 0.36% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.55% | 0.32% | 0.23% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.15% | 0.61% | 0.46% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.15% | 0.59% | 0.44% |
| CTASCintas Corp. | 0.10% | 0.63% | 0.53% |
| AFLAflac Inc. | 0.08% | 0.65% | 0.57% |
77.5% of TPLC is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or TPLC?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TPLC charges 0.52%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TPLC?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% vs +7.40% for TPLC, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SPY annualized +15.25% vs +10.34% for TPLC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TPLC?
TPLC has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TPLC -38.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and TPLC?
SPY and TPLC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and TPLC?
77.5% of TPLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 77.5% of TPLC's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 199 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 268 in TPLC.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TPLC?
SPY yields 0.98% while TPLC yields 0.82%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TPLC better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. TPLC is less concentrated, with 6.5% 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.