SPY vs UTES
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF
Which is better, SPY or UTES?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window, UTES over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.9%.
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 | UTES |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $1.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 1.53% |
| Holdings | 505 | 19 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | -4.82% |
| 1Y Return | +19.97%Best | -2.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20% | +22.54%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.81% | +13.48%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -35.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,270 | $18,819Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 69.9% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 23, 2015 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.9 years).
SPY vs UTES 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 10.9 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UTES Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (UTES) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% while UTES returned -2.02%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.34% versus a loss of 4.82% for UTES.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +22.54% for UTES; over five years the annualized figures are +12.81% and +13.48% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.25% annualized vs +11.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UTES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 15.1% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -35.7% for UTES. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UTES charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $49 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 1.53% for UTES.
Holdings Overlap
1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings UTES also owns. 82.4% of UTES's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of UTES is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
16 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 18 in UTES, against full books of 505 and 19.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 504 and 18 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 480 positions UTES does not, 98.4% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UTES | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 0.13% | 11.52% | 11.39% |
| VSTVistra Energy Corp. | 0.07% | 9.68% | 9.61% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 0.07% | 7.16% | 7.09% |
| CNPCenterpoint Energy Inc. | 0.04% | 6.59% | 6.55% |
| NINisource Inc. | 0.03% | 4.91% | 4.88% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 0.10% | 4.82% | 4.72% |
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 0.03% | 4.83% | 4.80% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 0.07% | 4.78% | 4.71% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 0.05% | 4.36% | 4.31% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 0.27% | 4.07% | 3.80% |
82.4% of UTES 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 UTES?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UTES charges 0.49%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UTES?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.97% vs -2.02% for UTES, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SPY annualized +14.25% vs +11.73% for UTES. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UTES?
UTES has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs UTES -35.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and UTES?
SPY and UTES have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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 UTES?
82.4% of UTES's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 82.4% of UTES's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 18 in UTES.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UTES?
SPY yields 1.01% while UTES yields 1.53%, so UTES currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UTES better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window, UTES over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.