SPY vs TPSC
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF
Which is better, SPY or TPSC?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPSC is less concentrated, with 4.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | TPSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.52% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $374M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 505 | 435 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +12.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | +13.75% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62%Best | +14.96% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73%Best | +8.29% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9%Best | 21.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -41.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205Best | $14,892 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 4.2%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Timothy Plan |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small 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 10, 2026 (6.8 years).
SPY vs TPSC 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 TPSC Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Timothy Plan US Small Cap Core ETF (TPSC) is an ETF from Timothy Plan. Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while TPSC returned +13.75%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 12.48% for TPSC.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +14.96% for TPSC; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +8.29% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.39% annualized vs +10.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TPSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.4% compared with 16.9% 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 -41.9% for TPSC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TPSC 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 1.04% for TPSC.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings TPSC also owns. 0.3% of TPSC's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 425 in TPSC, against full books of 505 and 435.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 415 positions for TPSC that do not appear in our book for SPY (95.5% of the fund), and 492 for SPY that do not appear in TPSC (99.4%).
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 TPSC 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 TPSC?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TPSC charges 0.52%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TPSC?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +13.75% for TPSC, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SPY annualized +15.39% vs +10.83% for TPSC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TPSC?
TPSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.4% annualized versus 16.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TPSC -41.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and TPSC?
SPY and TPSC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 TPSC?
SPY yields 0.98% while TPSC yields 1.04%, so TPSC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TPSC better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. TPSC is less concentrated, with 4.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.