SPY vs UGE
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs ProShares Ultra Consumer Staples
Which is better, SPY or UGE?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, UGE over 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 | SPY | UGE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $9M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 2.35% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 38 |
| YTD Return | +13.53% | +19.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +15.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36%Best | +14.08% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21%Best | -2.70% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4%Best | 29.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -72.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,596Best | $8,721 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | ProShares |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 30, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 1, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.7 years).
SPY vs UGE 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs UGE Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and ProShares Ultra Consumer Staples (UGE) is an ETF from ProShares. Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while UGE returned +15.63%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 19.35% for UGE.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.36% per year against +14.08% for UGE; over five years the annualized figures are +13.21% and -2.70% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, UGE has the edge at +10.45% annualized vs +9.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UGE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.4% compared with 15.4% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -72.2% for UGE. 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
SPY charges 0.09% per year while UGE charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $95 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 2.35% for UGE.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.5% of SPY's money is in holdings UGE also owns.
Stated as a floor: for UGE, our book for it covers 52.0% 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 UGE share little of their money.
32 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 33 in UGE, against full books of 1,515 and 38.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in UGE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.73% | 5.53% | 4.80% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 0.62% | 4.86% | 4.24% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.52% | 4.01% | 3.49% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.52% | 3.95% | 3.43% |
| PMPhilip Morris In | 0.46% | 3.48% | 3.02% |
| MOAltria Group Inc. | 0.18% | 2.38% | 2.20% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.28% | 2.21% | 1.93% |
| TGTTarget Corporation | 0.11% | 2.38% | 2.27% |
| CLColgate-Palmolive Co | 0.11% | 2.30% | 2.19% |
| MDLZMondelez International Inc. Class A | 0.12% | 2.24% | 2.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and UGE 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 UGE?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while UGE charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or UGE?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +15.63% for UGE, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPY annualized +9.28% vs +10.45% for UGE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or UGE?
UGE has been the more volatile fund at 29.4% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs UGE -72.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and UGE?
SPY and UGE 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.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and UGE?
At least 4.5% of SPY's money is in holdings UGE also owns. Our book for UGE is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 33 in UGE.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or UGE?
SPY yields 0.99% while UGE yields 2.35%, so UGE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is UGE better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, UGE over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.