SPY vs STEN
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Sep ETF
Which is better, SPY or STEN?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | SPY | STEN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $41M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.17% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 8 |
| YTD Return | +13.53%Best | +11.76% |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +14.69% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 9.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.9% | -6.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,578Best | $11,326 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | - |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 30, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1 years).
SPY vs STEN 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 years both funds cover.
SPY vs STEN Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Sep ETF (STEN) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while STEN returned +14.69%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 11.76% for STEN.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 9.2% for STEN. 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 -8.9% for SPY and -6.2% for STEN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while STEN charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $50 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 0.17% for STEN.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 2 in STEN, totalling 99.8% and 100.2% 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 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 2 in STEN, against full books of 1,515 and 8.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and STEN 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, SPY or STEN?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STEN charges 0.50%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or STEN?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +14.69% for STEN, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPY annualized +15.78% vs +13.26% for STEN. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or STEN?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 9.2% for STEN. Worst drawdown: SPY -8.9% vs STEN -6.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and STEN?
SPY and STEN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or STEN?
SPY yields 0.99% while STEN yields 0.17%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STEN better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.