SPY vs YGLD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Simplify Gold Strategy ETF
Which is better, SPY or YGLD?
Large Cap Blend against Gold.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, YGLD over 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 | YGLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.53% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $37M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 22.33% |
| Holdings | 505 | 16 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | -12.00% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +6.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.7%Best | 36.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -43.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,889 | $16,731Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Gold |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 2, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
SPY vs YGLD 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs YGLD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Simplify Gold Strategy ETF (YGLD) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while YGLD returned +6.25%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a loss of 12.00% for YGLD.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YGLD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 36.3% compared with 12.7% 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 -43.4% for YGLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.16. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YGLD charges 0.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $53 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 22.33% for YGLD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in YGLD, totalling 99.9% and 46.3% 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 1 in YGLD, against full books of 505 and 16.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and YGLD 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 YGLD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YGLD charges 0.53%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YGLD?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +6.25% for YGLD, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +15.14% vs +33.10% for YGLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or YGLD?
YGLD has been the more volatile fund at 36.3% annualized versus 12.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs YGLD -43.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and YGLD?
SPY and YGLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.16, 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 YGLD?
SPY yields 0.98% while YGLD yields 22.33%, so YGLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YGLD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, YGLD over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.