SPY vs YLD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Principal Active High Yield ETF
Which is better, SPY or YLD?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | YLD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $602M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 7.31% |
| Holdings | 505 | 148 |
| YTD Return | +13.82%Best | +4.03% |
| 1Y Return | +16.96%Best | +4.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.97%Best | +8.53% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.73%Best | +4.61% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 8.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -30.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,027Best | $12,528 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 8, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2015 to Sep 21, 2026 (11.2 years).
SPY vs YLD 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
SPY vs YLD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Principal Active High Yield ETF (YLD) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% while YLD returned +4.22%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.82% versus a gain of 4.03% for YLD.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.97% per year against +8.53% for YLD; over five years the annualized figures are +13.73% and +4.61% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.34% annualized vs +2.63%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 8.6% for YLD. 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 -34.1% for SPY and -30.3% for YLD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YLD charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $39 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 7.31% for YLD.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 95 in YLD, totalling 99.9% and 76.0% 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 95 in YLD, against full books of 505 and 148.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and YLD 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 YLD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YLD charges 0.39%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YLD?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% vs +4.22% for YLD, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SPY annualized +13.34% vs +2.63% for YLD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or YLD?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 8.6% for YLD. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs YLD -30.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and YLD?
SPY and YLD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 YLD?
SPY yields 0.98% while YLD yields 7.31%, so YLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YLD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.