SPY vs UCYB
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF
Which is better, SPY or UCYB?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UCYB led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | UCYB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $12M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 1.24% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 5 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 47.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -62.9% |
| $10,000 over 5.7 years | $21,799 | $27,527Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 19, 2021 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 18 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPY has data through Oct 30, 2026 and UCYB through Oct 12, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2021 to Oct 12, 2026 (5.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UCYB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 47.2% compared with 15.0% 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 -24.5% for SPY and -62.9% for UCYB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UCYB charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $95 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 1.24% for UCYB.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UCYB 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 UCYB?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UCYB charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or UCYB?
UCYB has been the more volatile fund at 47.2% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs UCYB -62.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and UCYB?
SPY and UCYB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 UCYB?
SPY yields 0.99% while UCYB yields 1.24%, so UCYB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UCYB better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UCYB led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.