SPY vs YYY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Amplify CEF High Income ETF
Which is better, SPY or YYY?
Large Cap Blend against Debt-oriented balanced.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. YYY is less concentrated, with 30.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | YYY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 3.23% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $736M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 13.88% |
| Holdings | 505 | 62 |
| YTD Return | +11.52%Best | +3.50% |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | +5.11% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62%Best | +11.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73%Best | +2.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -58.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205Best | $11,436 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 30.0%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Amplify ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Debt-oriented balanced |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jun 12, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2012 to Sep 10, 2026 (14.2 years).
SPY vs YYY 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs YYY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Amplify CEF High Income ETF (YYY) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while YYY returned +5.11%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 3.50% for YYY.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +11.12% for YYY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +2.72% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.59% annualized vs +0.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.5% for YYY. 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 -58.8% for YYY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while YYY charges 3.23%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $323 annually, a gap of $314 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 13.88% for YYY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 61 in YYY, totalling 100.0% and 99.6% 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 61 in YYY, against full books of 505 and 62.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 60 positions for YYY that do not appear in our book for SPY (98.3% of the fund), and 494 for SPY that do not appear in YYY (99.5%).
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 YYY 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 YYY?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while YYY charges 3.23%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $314 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or YYY?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +5.11% for YYY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SPY annualized +13.59% vs +0.20% for YYY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or YYY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.5% for YYY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs YYY -58.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and YYY?
SPY and YYY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 YYY?
SPY yields 0.98% while YYY yields 13.88%, so YYY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is YYY better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. YYY is less concentrated, with 30.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.