SPY vs UYM
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares Ultra Materials
Which is better, SPY or UYM?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, UYM over 1Y.
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 | UYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $40M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.09% |
| Holdings | 505 | 31 |
| YTD Return | +13.81% | +15.70%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.94% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.84%Best | +11.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.50%Best | +7.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 45.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -92.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,836Best | $14,144 |
| 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 22, 2026 (19.6 years).
SPY vs UYM 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 UYM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and ProShares Ultra Materials (UYM) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% while UYM returned +18.53%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.81% versus a gain of 15.70% for UYM.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.84% per year against +11.33% for UYM; over five years the annualized figures are +13.50% and +7.18% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.33% annualized vs +2.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 45.6% 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 -92.8% for UYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UYM 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 1.09% for UYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of SPY's money is in holdings UYM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UYM, our book for it covers 69.3% 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 UYM share little of their money.
24 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 26 in UYM, against full books of 505 and 31.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.34% | 9.14% | 8.80% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 0.20% | 5.44% | 5.24% |
| CTVACorteva Inc Ctva | 0.09% | 3.41% | 3.32% |
| SHWSherwin Williams Co/the | 0.12% | 3.35% | 3.23% |
| APDAir Products & Chemicals Inc. | 0.10% | 3.36% | 3.26% |
| ECLEcolab, Inc. | 0.11% | 3.31% | 3.20% |
| NUENucor Corp. | 0.09% | 2.99% | 2.90% |
| VMCVulcan Materials Co. | 0.05% | 2.97% | 2.92% |
| CRH:LNCrh Plc - Common | 0.09% | 2.83% | 2.74% |
| MLMMartin Marietta Materials Inc. | 0.05% | 2.81% | 2.76% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UYM 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 UYM?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UYM charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UYM?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% vs +18.53% for UYM, so UYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPY annualized +9.33% vs +2.64% for UYM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UYM?
UYM has been the more volatile fund at 45.6% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs UYM -92.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and UYM?
SPY and UYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 UYM?
At least 1.6% of SPY's money is in holdings UYM also owns. Our book for UYM is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 26 in UYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UYM?
SPY yields 0.98% while UYM yields 1.09%, so UYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UYM better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, UYM over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.