SPY vs YMAG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF
Which is better, SPY or YMAG?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, YMAG 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 | YMAG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.34% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $295M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 57.01% |
| Holdings | 505 | 9 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | +5.80% |
| 1Y Return | +15.52%Best | +9.03% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 17.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -26.0% |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $15,746 | $16,849Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | - |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 29, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 30, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (2.6 years).
SPY vs YMAG 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs YMAG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and YieldMax Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAG) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while YMAG returned +9.03%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 5.80% for YMAG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YMAG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 12.1% 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 -26.0% for YMAG. 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 YMAG charges 1.34%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $134 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 57.01% for YMAG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 8 in YMAG, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 8 in YMAG, against full books of 505 and 9.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for YMAG that do not appear in our book for SPY (100.0% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in YMAG (99.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and YMAG 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 YMAG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YMAG charges 1.34%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YMAG?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +9.03% for YMAG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or YMAG?
YMAG has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 12.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs YMAG -26.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and YMAG?
SPY and YMAG 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or YMAG?
SPY yields 0.98% while YMAG yields 57.01%, so YMAG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YMAG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, YMAG over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.