SPY vs UDOW
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares UltraPro Dow30
Which is better, SPY or UDOW?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UDOW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94.
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 | UDOW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $849M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 505 | 42 |
| YTD Return | +12.47% | +18.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.51% | +33.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18% | +34.03%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | +14.25%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 43.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -80.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327 | $19,466Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 9, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2010 to Sep 11, 2026 (16.6 years).
SPY vs UDOW 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 16.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UDOW Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and ProShares UltraPro Dow30 (UDOW) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while UDOW returned +33.36%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a gain of 18.98% for UDOW.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.18% per year against +34.03% for UDOW; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +14.25% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, UDOW has the edge at +25.72% annualized vs +13.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UDOW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 43.8% compared with 14.4% 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 -80.3% for UDOW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. 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 UDOW 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 0.98% against 1.07% for UDOW.
Holdings Overlap
At least 38.5% of SPY's money is in holdings UDOW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UDOW, our book for it covers 60.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
29 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 30 in UDOW, against full books of 505 and 42.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UDOW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.71% | 1.21% | 6.50% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.83% | 1.72% | 5.11% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 2.70% | 2.80% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.08% | 1.51% | 2.57% |
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 0.61% | 4.82% | 4.21% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 3.33% | 2.01% | 1.32% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.44% | 1.99% | 0.55% |
| VVisa Inc | 0.92% | 2.04% | 1.12% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.56% | 2.28% | 1.72% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.32% | 2.26% | 1.94% |
38.5% of SPY is already inside UDOW.
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 UDOW?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UDOW charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UDOW?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs +33.36% for UDOW, so UDOW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SPY annualized +13.02% vs +25.72% for UDOW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UDOW?
UDOW has been the more volatile fund at 43.8% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs UDOW -80.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and UDOW?
SPY and UDOW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 UDOW?
At least 38.5% of SPY's money is in holdings UDOW also owns. Our book for UDOW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 30 in UDOW.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UDOW?
SPY yields 0.98% while UDOW yields 1.07%, so UDOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UDOW better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UDOW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.