SPY vs UPSD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF
Which is better, SPY or UPSD?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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 | UPSD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $129M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.59% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +13.53% | +14.77%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +16.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 14.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,273Best | $12,252 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Aptus ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 20, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
SPY vs UPSD 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UPSD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Aptus Large Cap Upside ETF (UPSD) is an ETF from Aptus ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while UPSD returned +16.52%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 14.77% for UPSD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UPSD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.0% compared with 12.4% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -23.9% for UPSD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UPSD charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $79 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 0.59% for UPSD.
Holdings Overlap
At least 57.1% of SPY's money is in holdings UPSD also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UPSD, our book for it covers 94.8% 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.
95 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 98 in UPSD, against full books of 1,515 and 103.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UPSD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.78% | 5.39% | 2.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.45% | 4.90% | 2.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.71% | 3.49% | 2.22% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 1.86% | 1.92% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.12% | 1.55% | 1.57% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.49% | 1.54% | 0.95% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.59% | 2.16% | 0.57% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.48% | 0.89% | 1.59% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.22% | 0.55% | 1.67% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.37% | 1.29% | 0.08% |
57.1% of SPY is already inside UPSD.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or UPSD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UPSD charges 0.79%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UPSD?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +16.52% for UPSD, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +16.07% vs +11.28% for UPSD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UPSD?
UPSD has been the more volatile fund at 14.0% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs UPSD -23.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and UPSD?
SPY and UPSD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and UPSD?
At least 57.1% of SPY's money is in holdings UPSD also owns. Our book for UPSD is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 95 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 98 in UPSD.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UPSD?
SPY yields 0.99% while UPSD yields 0.59%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UPSD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY 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.