SPY vs TYG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation
Which is better, SPY or TYG?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window, TYG over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | TYG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.49% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 11.96% |
| Holdings | 505 | 41 |
| YTD Return | +13.78%Best | +12.56% |
| 1Y Return | +21.44%Best | +13.60% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38% | +24.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80% | +20.56%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 34.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -97.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262 | $25,469Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | TortoiseEcofin Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 27, 2004 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 25, 2004 to Sep 3, 2026 (22.5 years).
SPY vs TYG 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 22.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TYG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Tortoise Energy Infrastructure Corporation (TYG) is an ETF from TortoiseEcofin Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% while TYG returned +13.60%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.78% versus a gain of 12.56% for TYG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.38% per year against +24.73% for TYG; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +20.56% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.19% annualized vs -1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 34.9% compared with 14.6% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -97.3% for TYG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TYG charges 1.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $149 annually, a gap of $140 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 11.96% for TYG.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings TYG also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for TYG, our book for it lists positions totalling 125.6% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and TYG share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 157 days apart, SPY as of Aug 4, 2026 and TYG as of Feb 28, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
16 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 33 in TYG, against full books of 505 and 41.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in TYG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.13% | 10.98% | 10.85% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 0.08% | 10.24% | 10.16% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 0.03% | 8.93% | 8.90% |
| SRESempra Energy | 0.09% | 6.51% | 6.42% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.13% | 6.15% | 6.02% |
| NRGNrg Energy | 0.04% | 4.46% | 4.42% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 0.07% | 4.28% | 4.21% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.08% | 4.23% | 4.15% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.07% | 3.02% | 2.95% |
| NINisource Inc. | 0.03% | 2.73% | 2.70% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and TYG 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 TYG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TYG charges 1.49%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $140 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TYG?
Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% vs +13.60% for TYG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), SPY annualized +9.19% vs -1.43% for TYG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TYG?
TYG has been the more volatile fund at 34.9% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs TYG -97.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and TYG?
SPY and TYG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 TYG?
At least 1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings TYG also owns. Our book for TYG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 33 in TYG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TYG?
SPY yields 1.01% while TYG yields 11.96%, so TYG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TYG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window, TYG over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.