LIFT vs SPY
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LIFT or SPY?
Intermediate Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
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 | LIFT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 45.96% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 22 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -27.61% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -27.00% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -27.7% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $7,227 | $11,851Best |
| Fund Family | Stone Ridge Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
LIFT 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
LIFT vs SPY Performance
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF (LIFT) is an ETF from Stone Ridge Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LIFT returned -27.00% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, LIFT is down 27.61% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 5.5% for LIFT. 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 -27.7% for LIFT and -8.9% 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 -0.02. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LIFT charges 0.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $9 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LIFT currently yields 45.96% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in LIFT and 504 in SPY, totalling 46.2% and 99.8% 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 8 positions we hold weights for in LIFT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 22 and 1,515.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LIFT 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, LIFT or SPY?
LIFT has an expense ratio of 0.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LIFT or SPY?
Over the past year LIFT returned -27.00% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LIFT annualized -25.56% vs +16.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LIFT or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 5.5% for LIFT. Worst drawdown: LIFT -27.7% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both LIFT and SPY?
LIFT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.02, 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, LIFT or SPY?
LIFT yields 45.96% while SPY yields 0.99%, so LIFT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LIFT?
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.