SPY vs UNX
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Tradr 2X Long U Daily ETF
Which is better, SPY or UNX?
Large Cap Blend against Trading-Leveraged Equity.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UNX 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 | UNX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.30% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 4 |
| YTD Return | +12.22% | +374.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.97% | +285.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.16% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.00% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2%Best | 1286.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9%Best | -92.1% |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,679 | $37,909Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Tradr ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Trading-Leveraged Equity |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 15, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 16, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1 years).
SPY vs UNX 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs UNX Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Tradr 2X Long U Daily ETF (UNX) is an ETF from Tradr ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% while UNX returned +285.28%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.22% versus a gain of 374.33% for UNX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UNX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 1286.5% compared with 13.2% 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 -8.9% for SPY and -92.1% for UNX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UNX charges 1.30%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $130 annually, a gap of $121 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for UNX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in UNX, totalling 99.9% and 26.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1 in UNX, against full books of 505 and 4.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UNX 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 UNX?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UNX charges 1.30%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $121 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UNX?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% vs +285.28% for UNX, so UNX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPY annualized +16.79% vs +279.09% for UNX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UNX?
UNX has been the more volatile fund at 1286.5% annualized versus 13.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -8.9% vs UNX -92.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and UNX?
SPY and UNX have a monthly-return correlation of -0.47, 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 UNX?
SPY yields 0.98% while UNX yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UNX better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. UNX 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.