SPY vs TPZ
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Tortoise Essential Energy Fund
Which is better, SPY or TPZ?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | TPZ |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $120M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 3.15% |
| Holdings | 505 | 35 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Best | 24.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -87.9% |
| $10,000 over 15.5 years | $65,578Best | $34,218 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 55.4% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Tortoise Capital |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 29, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 588 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPY has data through Sep 8, 2026 and TPZ through Jan 28, 2025.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 15.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 29, 2009 to Jan 28, 2025 (15.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TPZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.4% compared with 14.5% 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 -87.9% for TPZ. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TPZ charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 3.15% for TPZ.
Holdings Overlap
1.5% of SPY's money is in holdings TPZ also owns. 56.8% of TPZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
16 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 32 in TPZ, against full books of 505 and 35.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 12 positions for TPZ that do not appear in our book for SPY (34.4% of the fund), and 477 for SPY that do not appear in TPZ (97.9%).
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 TPZ | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRGPTarga Resources Inc | 0.08% | 6.55% | 6.47% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.07% | 6.04% | 5.97% |
| WMBWilliams Cos Inc/the | 0.13% | 5.67% | 5.54% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 0.13% | 5.22% | 5.09% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.08% | 4.05% | 3.97% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp Esrw A/c Usd Npv Ref Sm# 599782 * Fma Only* | 0.07% | 3.46% | 3.39% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc | 0.04% | 3.44% | 3.40% |
| SRESempra | 0.09% | 3.19% | 3.10% |
| WECWisconsin Public Service Corporati | 0.05% | 3.18% | 3.13% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.27% | 2.94% | 2.67% |
56.8% of TPZ 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 TPZ?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TPZ charges 0.85%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or TPZ?
TPZ has been the more volatile fund at 24.4% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs TPZ -87.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and TPZ?
SPY and TPZ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 TPZ?
56.8% of TPZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 56.8% of TPZ's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 32 in TPZ.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TPZ?
SPY yields 1.01% while TPZ yields 3.15%, so TPZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TPZ better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.