SPY vs UPW
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares Ultra Utilities
Which is better, SPY or UPW?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | UPW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $14M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.65% |
| Holdings | 505 | 36 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | -12.31% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | -7.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +13.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37%Best | +6.10% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 29.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -79.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,728Best | $13,445 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 30, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (19.6 years).
SPY vs UPW 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UPW Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and ProShares Ultra Utilities (UPW) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while UPW returned -7.92%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a loss of 12.31% for UPW.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +13.25% for UPW; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and +6.10% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.25% annualized vs +6.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UPW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.9% compared with 15.5% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -79.5% for UPW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UPW 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 1.65% for UPW.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.0% of SPY's money is in holdings UPW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UPW, our book for it covers 71.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and UPW share little of their money.
31 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 31 in UPW, against full books of 505 and 36.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UPW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.26% | 9.35% | 9.09% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 0.15% | 5.40% | 5.25% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 0.14% | 5.09% | 4.95% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.14% | 4.78% | 4.64% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 0.10% | 3.62% | 3.52% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 0.09% | 3.16% | 3.07% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.08% | 2.91% | 2.83% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.07% | 2.65% | 2.58% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.07% | 2.57% | 2.50% |
| EXCExelon | 0.07% | 2.43% | 2.36% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UPW 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 UPW?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UPW charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UPW?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs -7.92% for UPW, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPY annualized +9.25% vs +6.72% for UPW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UPW?
UPW has been the more volatile fund at 29.9% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs UPW -79.5%.
Should I hold both SPY and UPW?
SPY and UPW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 UPW?
At least 2.0% of SPY's money is in holdings UPW also owns. Our book for UPW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 31 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 31 in UPW.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UPW?
SPY yields 0.98% while UPW yields 1.65%, so UPW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UPW better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.