HEAT vs SPY

HEAT vs SPY

Which is better, HEAT or SPY?

SPY has been ahead.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPY

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

MetricHEATSPY
Expense Ratio0.69%0.09%Best
AUM$14M$823.2B
Dividend Yield0.53%0.99%
Holdings641,515
Volatility (annualized)15.7%12.2%Best
Max Drawdown-20.7%-18.8%Best
$10,000 over 2.6 years$12,259$17,050Best
Fund FamilyTouchstone InvestmentsState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionApr 28, 2023Jan 22, 1993

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

The two price series end 299 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. HEAT has data through Dec 19, 2025 and SPY through Oct 14, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2023 to Dec 19, 2025 (2.6 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

HEAT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 12.2% 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 -20.7% for HEAT and -18.8% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

HEAT charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HEAT currently yields 0.53% against 0.99% for SPY.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of HEAT and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

HEATSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, HEAT or SPY?

HEAT has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, HEAT or SPY?

HEAT has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 12.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: HEAT -20.7% vs SPY -18.8%.

Should I hold both HEAT and SPY?

HEAT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, HEAT or SPY?

HEAT yields 0.53% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than HEAT?

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.