BLOK vs SPY
Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BLOK or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BLOK led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | BLOK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.73% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 110 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -5.87% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -23.01% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +41.70%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.66% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 39.9% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,169 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 16, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2018 to Oct 14, 2026 (8.7 years).
BLOK 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 covers the 8.7 years both funds cover.
BLOK vs SPY Performance
Amplify Blockchain Technology ETF (BLOK) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BLOK returned -23.01% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, BLOK is down 5.87% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, BLOK compounded at +41.70% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.66% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, BLOK has the edge at +14.23% annualized vs +13.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BLOK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 39.9% compared with 16.3% 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 -73.3% for BLOK and -34.1% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BLOK charges 0.73% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $73 vs $9 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BLOK currently yields 0.80% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.3% of SPY's money is in holdings BLOK also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BLOK, our book for it covers 91.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and BLOK share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in BLOK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 110 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BLOK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 1.85% | 7.78% | 5.93% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.55% | 1.22% | 2.33% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.70% | 2.48% | 0.78% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 3.98% | 0.14% | 3.84% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 2.87% | 0.24% | 2.63% |
| COINCoinbase Global, Inc. | 2.81% | 0.06% | 2.75% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 2.23% | 0.36% | 1.87% |
| BLKBlackrock Inc, Class A | 2.18% | 0.23% | 1.95% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 2.18% | 0.06% | 2.12% |
| PYPLPaypal Holdings Inc | 1.82% | 0.07% | 1.75% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BLOK 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, BLOK or SPY?
BLOK has an expense ratio of 0.73% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BLOK or SPY?
Over the past year BLOK returned -23.01% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), BLOK annualized +14.23% vs +13.27% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BLOK or SPY?
BLOK has been the more volatile fund at 39.9% annualized versus 16.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BLOK -73.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both BLOK and SPY?
BLOK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BLOK and SPY?
At least 14.3% of SPY's money is in holdings BLOK also owns. Our book for BLOK is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in BLOK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BLOK or SPY?
BLOK yields 0.80% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BLOK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BLOK led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.