SPY vs YMAX
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF
Which is better, SPY or YMAX?
Large Cap Blend against Option Writing.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%.
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 | YMAX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.33% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $378M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 70.90% |
| Holdings | 505 | 28 |
| YTD Return | +12.99%Best | +8.73% |
| 1Y Return | +16.73%Best | +1.02% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.52% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.07% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 20.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8%Best | -26.1% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $16,802Best | $14,711 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 47.7% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | YieldMax ETF |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Option Writing |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 16, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (2.7 years).
SPY vs YMAX 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs YMAX Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and YieldMax Universe Fund of Option Income ETF (YMAX) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF. Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% while YMAX returned +1.02%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.99% versus a gain of 8.73% for YMAX.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YMAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 12.0% 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 -26.1% for YMAX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YMAX charges 1.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $133 annually, a gap of $124 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 70.90% for YMAX.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 29 in YMAX, totalling 99.9% and 99.8% 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 29 in YMAX, against full books of 505 and 28.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 504 and 29 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 497 positions YMAX does not, 99.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and YMAX 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 YMAX?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YMAX charges 1.33%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $124 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YMAX?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% vs +1.02% for YMAX, 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 YMAX?
YMAX has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 12.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs YMAX -26.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and YMAX?
SPY and YMAX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 YMAX?
SPY yields 0.98% while YMAX yields 70.90%, so YMAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YMAX better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.