SPY vs WEEL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Peerless Option Income Wheel ETF
Which is better, SPY or WEEL?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | WEEL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.99% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $43M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 12.41% |
| Holdings | 505 | 39 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +9.08% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +14.30% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8% | 7.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -17.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $14,696Best | $13,238 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Peerless ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | May 16, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 16, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.3 years).
SPY vs WEEL 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WEEL Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Peerless Option Income Wheel ETF (WEEL) is an ETF from Peerless ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while WEEL returned +14.30%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 9.08% for WEEL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.8% compared with 7.4% for WEEL. 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 -17.4% for WEEL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WEEL charges 0.99%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $99 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 12.41% for WEEL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 11 in WEEL, totalling 99.9% and 45.5% 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 11 in WEEL, against full books of 505 and 39.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and WEEL 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 WEEL?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WEEL charges 0.99%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WEEL?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +14.30% for WEEL, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +18.22% vs +12.97% for WEEL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WEEL?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.8% annualized versus 7.4% for WEEL. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs WEEL -17.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and WEEL?
SPY and WEEL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 WEEL?
SPY yields 0.98% while WEEL yields 12.41%, so WEEL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WEEL better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.