SPY vs UMDD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs UltraPro MidCap400
Which is better, SPY or UMDD?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y and 5Y, UMDD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | UMDD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $29M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.69% |
| Holdings | 505 | 409 |
| YTD Return | +10.96% | +17.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.52% | +20.91%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73%Best | +19.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53%Best | +0.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 52.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -86.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044Best | $10,345 |
| 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 16, 2026 (16.6 years).
SPY vs UMDD 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 UMDD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and UltraPro MidCap400 (UMDD) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while UMDD returned +20.91%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 17.28% for UMDD.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.73% per year against +19.50% for UMDD; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +0.68% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, UMDD has the edge at +17.85% annualized vs +12.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UMDD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 52.7% 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 -86.4% for UMDD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. 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 UMDD 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 0.69% for UMDD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 396 in UMDD, totalling 99.9% and 59.5% of the two funds. That is not enough of UMDD to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 396 in UMDD, against full books of 505 and 409.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UMDD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FISFidelity National Information Srvcs Inc | 0.03% | 0.20% | 0.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UMDD 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 UMDD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UMDD charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UMDD?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +20.91% for UMDD, so UMDD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SPY annualized +12.92% vs +17.85% for UMDD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UMDD?
UMDD has been the more volatile fund at 52.7% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs UMDD -86.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and UMDD?
SPY and UMDD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UMDD?
SPY yields 0.98% while UMDD yields 0.69%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UMDD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y and 5Y, UMDD over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.