SPY vs UFIV
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs F/m US Treasury 5 Year Note ETF
Which is better, SPY or UFIV?
Large Cap Blend against Long Term High Quality.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | UFIV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.15% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $30M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.93% |
| Holdings | 505 | 2 |
| YTD Return | +12.47%Best | -1.95% |
| 1Y Return | +17.51%Best | -1.54% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18%Best | +3.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5% | 4.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -5.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.5 years | $20,299Best | $10,873 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | US Benchmark Series |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Long Term High Quality |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Mar 28, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 28, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.5 years).
SPY vs UFIV 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 3.5 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UFIV Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and F/m US Treasury 5 Year Note ETF (UFIV) is an ETF from US Benchmark Series. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while UFIV returned -1.54%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a loss of 1.95% for UFIV.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.18% per year against +3.52% for UFIV. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +22.42% annualized vs +2.42%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 4.1% for UFIV. 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 -18.8% for SPY and -5.6% for UFIV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UFIV charges 0.15%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $15 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.93% for UFIV.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UFIV 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 UFIV?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UFIV charges 0.15%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UFIV?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs -1.54% for UFIV, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SPY annualized +22.42% vs +2.42% for UFIV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UFIV?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 4.1% for UFIV. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs UFIV -5.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and UFIV?
SPY and UFIV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 UFIV?
SPY yields 0.98% while UFIV yields 3.93%, so UFIV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UFIV better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.