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. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | $804.7B | $123M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.63% |
| Holdings | 505 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +12.09% | +12.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +14.39% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 14.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -23.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,048Best | $11,936 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 25.0%Best |
| 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 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 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 1.8 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 +16.29% while UPSD returned +14.39%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 12.13% 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 14.2% compared with 12.7% 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 0.98% against 0.63% for UPSD.
Holdings Overlap
56.9% of SPY's money is in holdings UPSD also owns. 93.3% of UPSD's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of UPSD is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
96 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 99 in UPSD, against full books of 505 and 103.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for UPSD that do not appear in our book for SPY (1.9% of the fund), and 401 for SPY that do not appear in UPSD (42.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UPSD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 5.17% | 2.84% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 4.84% | 2.42% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 3.38% | 2.28% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 1.89% | 1.90% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 1.53% | 1.46% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.39% | 1.52% | 0.87% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 1.99% | 0.39% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 0.85% | 1.81% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 1.30% | 0.10% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.04% | 1.43% | 0.39% |
93.3% of UPSD is already inside SPY.
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 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 +16.29% vs +14.39% for UPSD, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +15.93% vs +10.33% 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 14.2% annualized versus 12.7% 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?
93.3% of UPSD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 93.3% of UPSD's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 96 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 99 in UPSD.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UPSD?
SPY yields 0.98% while UPSD yields 0.63%, 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. UPSD is less concentrated, with 25.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.