SPY vs USL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs United States 12 Month Oil Fund
Which is better, SPY or USL?
Large Cap Blend against Energy.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y and the full window, USL over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | USL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.02% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $44M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +13.78% | +59.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.44% | +46.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38%Best | +10.60% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80% | +16.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7%Best | 29.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.2%Best | -89.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262 | $21,076Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Energy |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 6, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2007 to Sep 3, 2026 (18.7 years).
SPY vs USL 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 18.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs USL Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and United States 12 Month Oil Fund (USL) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% while USL returned +46.59%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.78% versus a gain of 59.96% for USL.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.38% per year against +10.60% for USL; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +16.08% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.54% annualized vs +0.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.4% compared with 15.7% 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 -55.2% for SPY and -89.1% for USL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while USL charges 1.02%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $102 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 0.00% for USL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in USL, totalling 100.0% and 28.1% 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 USL, against full books of 505 and 16.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and USL 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 USL?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while USL charges 1.02%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or USL?
Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% vs +46.59% for USL, so USL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SPY annualized +9.54% vs +0.18% for USL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or USL?
USL has been the more volatile fund at 29.4% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -55.2% vs USL -89.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and USL?
SPY and USL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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 USL?
SPY yields 1.01% while USL yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USL better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y and the full window, USL over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.