SPY vs YNOT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Horizon Digital Frontier ETF
Quick Verdict
SPY has a lower expense ratio. YNOT delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 505 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPY | YNOT | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.75% | |
| AUM | $821.1B | $193M | |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.00% | |
| Holdings | 505 | 105 | |
| YTD Return | +12.35% | +11.87% | |
| 1Y Return | +20.15% | +21.96% | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.69% | - | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.77% | - | |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 24.6% | |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -17.3% | |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Horizon Funds | |
| Category | Equity | Equity | |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 9, 2025 |
SPY vs YNOT Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Horizon Digital Frontier ETF (YNOT) is a ETF from Horizon Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +20.15% while YNOT returned +21.96%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.35% versus a gain of 11.87% for YNOT.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
YNOT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -17.3% for YNOT. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YNOT charges 0.75%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $75 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 0.00% for YNOT.
Holdings Overlap
SPY and YNOT share 49 holdings out of 557 unique holdings combined, representing a 35.9% weight overlap.
Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or YNOT?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YNOT charges 0.75%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $66 per year of difference.
Which performed better, SPY or YNOT?
Over the past year SPY returned +20.15% vs +21.96% for YNOT, so YNOT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPY annualized +8.79% vs +23.61% for YNOT. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Which is riskier, SPY or YNOT?
YNOT has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs YNOT -17.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and YNOT?
SPY and YNOT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. Holding both adds little diversification - most investors pick one, usually on fees or the specific index tracked.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and YNOT?
SPY and YNOT share 49 common holdings with a 35.9% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 557 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or YNOT?
SPY yields 1.01% while YNOT yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Popular ETF Comparisons
Get Full ETF Analytics
Access complete holdings data, overlap analysis, screener tools, and more with FundXLS.