COSW vs SPY
Roundhill COST WeeklyPay ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, COSW or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.
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 | COSW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.99% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 28.62% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 15 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +1.90% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.96% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Fund Family | Roundhill Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 23, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
COSW 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.
COSW vs SPY Performance
Roundhill COST WeeklyPay ETF (COSW) is an ETF from Roundhill Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year COSW returned -9.96% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, COSW is up 1.90% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
COSW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 13.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
COSW charges 0.99% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $99 vs $9 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, COSW currently yields 28.62% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings COSW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for COSW, our book for it covers 13.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in COSW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 15 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in COSW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 4.95% | 0.62% | 4.33% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of COSW 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, COSW or SPY?
COSW has an expense ratio of 0.99% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, COSW or SPY?
Over the past year COSW returned -9.96% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, COSW or SPY?
COSW has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both COSW and SPY?
COSW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.01, 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, COSW or SPY?
COSW yields 28.62% while SPY yields 0.99%, so COSW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than COSW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.