SPY vs UWM
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares Ultra Russell2000
Which is better, SPY or UWM?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 5Y and the full window, UWM over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | UWM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $239M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.83% |
| Holdings | 505 | 1,994 |
| YTD Return | +10.96% | +24.36%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.52% | +32.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | +23.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53%Best | +1.96% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 41.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -88.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044Best | $11,019 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 23, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.6 years).
SPY vs UWM 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 UWM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and ProShares Ultra Russell2000 (UWM) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while UWM returned +32.74%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 24.36% for UWM.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.73% per year against +23.95% for UWM; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +1.96% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.27% annualized vs +6.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UWM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 41.0% 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 -88.5% for UWM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UWM 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 0.83% for UWM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings UWM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UWM, our book for it covers 67.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,922 in UWM, against full books of 505 and 1,994.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UWM 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 UWM?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UWM charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UWM?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +32.74% for UWM, so UWM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPY annualized +9.27% vs +6.51% for UWM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UWM?
UWM has been the more volatile fund at 41.0% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs UWM -88.5%.
Should I hold both SPY and UWM?
SPY and UWM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 UWM?
SPY yields 0.98% while UWM yields 0.83%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UWM better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 5Y and the full window, UWM over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.