BHK vs SPY
BlackRock Core Bond Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BHK or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BHK is less concentrated, with 32.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | BHK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.68% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $639M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.18% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 1,627 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -8.04% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.40% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.73% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.97% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -45.8%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,750 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.2%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 30, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 28, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (24.9 years).
BHK vs SPY 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.
BHK vs SPY Performance
BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BHK returned -9.40% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, BHK is down 8.04% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, BHK compounded at +3.73% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -4.97% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.34% annualized vs -0.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 12.5% for BHK. 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 -45.8% for BHK and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BHK charges 3.68% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $368 vs $9 annually, a gap of $359 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BHK currently yields 10.18% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of BHK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings BHK also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 257 days apart, BHK as of Dec 31, 2025 and SPY as of Sep 14, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,063 positions we hold weights for in BHK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,627 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BHK (96.1% of the fund), and 967 for BHK that do not appear in SPY (101.7%).
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 BHK and SPY 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, BHK or SPY?
BHK has an expense ratio of 3.68% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $359 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BHK or SPY?
Over the past year BHK returned -9.40% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), BHK annualized -0.57% vs +8.34% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BHK or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 12.5% for BHK. Worst drawdown: BHK -45.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both BHK and SPY?
BHK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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, BHK or SPY?
BHK yields 10.18% while SPY yields 0.99%, so BHK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BHK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BHK is less concentrated, with 32.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.