SPY vs UXJA
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs FT Vest US Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January
Which is better, SPY or UXJA?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00.
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 | UXJA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $12M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 8 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | +10.80% |
| 1Y Return | +15.52%Best | +14.90% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -20.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,810Best | $12,708 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 17, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 21, 2025 to Sep 16, 2026 (1.7 years).
SPY vs UXJA 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UXJA Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and FT Vest US Equity Uncapped Accelerator ETF - January (UXJA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while UXJA returned +14.90%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 10.80% for UXJA.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UXJA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 13.1% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -20.0% for UXJA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UXJA charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for UXJA.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UXJA 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 UXJA?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UXJA charges 0.85%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UXJA?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +14.90% for UXJA, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +15.68% vs +15.14% for UXJA. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UXJA?
UXJA has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs UXJA -20.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and UXJA?
SPY and UXJA have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UXJA?
SPY yields 0.98% while UXJA yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UXJA better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.