SPY vs ZTOP
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs F/m High Yield 100 ETF
Which is better, SPY or ZTOP?
Large Cap Blend against High Yield Bond.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | ZTOP |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $16M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 6.26% |
| Holdings | 505 | 103 |
| YTD Return | +13.51%Best | +0.40% |
| 1Y Return | +18.19%Best | +1.93% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.29% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0% | 3.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9% | -2.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $14,378Best | $10,887 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | F-m investments |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | High Yield Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 14, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 15, 2025 to Sep 25, 2026 (1.4 years).
SPY vs ZTOP 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs ZTOP Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and F/m High Yield 100 ETF (ZTOP) is an ETF from F-m investments. Over the past year SPY returned +18.19% while ZTOP returned +1.93%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.51% versus a gain of 0.40% for ZTOP.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 3.5% for ZTOP. 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 -8.9% for SPY and -2.5% for ZTOP. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while ZTOP 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 6.26% for ZTOP.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 75 in ZTOP, totalling 99.9% and 72.8% 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 75 in ZTOP, against full books of 505 and 103.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and ZTOP 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 ZTOP?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while ZTOP charges 0.39%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or ZTOP?
Over the past year SPY returned +18.19% vs +1.93% for ZTOP, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPY annualized +29.61% vs +6.26% for ZTOP. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or ZTOP?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 3.5% for ZTOP. Worst drawdown: SPY -8.9% vs ZTOP -2.5%.
Should I hold both SPY and ZTOP?
SPY and ZTOP have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 ZTOP?
SPY yields 0.98% while ZTOP yields 6.26%, so ZTOP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZTOP better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.