SPY vs ZJUL
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr July
Which is better, SPY or ZJUL?
Large Cap Blend against Multi Alternative.
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 | SPY | ZJUL |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.79% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $194M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 21 |
| YTD Return | +13.53%Best | +4.45% |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +5.64% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 3.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -5.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $14,516Best | $11,691 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Innovator ETFs Trust |
| Category | Equity | Alternative |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Multi Alternative |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 1, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.3 years).
SPY vs ZJUL 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
SPY vs ZJUL Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Innovator Equity Defined Protection ETF - 1 Yr July (ZJUL) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust. Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while ZJUL returned +5.64%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 4.45% for ZJUL.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 3.3% for ZJUL. 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 -18.8% for SPY and -5.5% for ZJUL. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while ZJUL charges 0.79%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $79 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 0.00% for ZJUL.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 1 in ZJUL, totalling 99.8% and 100.1% 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 1 in ZJUL, against full books of 1,515 and 21.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and ZJUL 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 ZJUL?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while ZJUL charges 0.79%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or ZJUL?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +5.64% for ZJUL, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +17.59% vs +7.03% for ZJUL. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or ZJUL?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 3.3% for ZJUL. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs ZJUL -5.5%.
Should I hold both SPY and ZJUL?
SPY and ZJUL have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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, SPY or ZJUL?
SPY yields 0.99% while ZJUL yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZJUL better than SPY?
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.