SPYM vs TENJ

SPYM vs TENJ

Which is better, SPYM or TENJ?

Nearly the same fund. SPYM costs less.

SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.

Lower Fees: SPYMHigher Returns (1Y): SPYM

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

MetricSPYMTENJ
Expense Ratio0.02%Best0.50%
AUM$185.2B$54M
Dividend Yield1.01%0.23%
Holdings5098
YTD Return+13.57%Best+11.71%
1Y Return+17.53%Best+13.95%
3Y Return (annualized)+22.46%-
5Y Return (annualized)+13.29%-
Volatility (annualized)13.2%8.4%Best
Fund FamilyState Street Investment ManagementiShares by BlackRock (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionNov 8, 2005Oct 21, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

SPYM vs TENJ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

Compare SPYM against instead:SPYM vs SPYSPYM vs QQQSPYM vs VOOSPYM vs VTITENJ against:TENJ vs VXUS

SPYM vs TENJ Performance

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Jun ETF (TENJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% while TENJ returned +13.95%. Year to date, SPYM is up 13.57% versus a gain of 11.71% for TENJ.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 8.4% for TENJ. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SPYM charges 0.02% per year while TENJ charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $50 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPYM currently yields 1.01% against 0.23% for TENJ.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 505 holdings in SPYM and 2 in TENJ, totalling 99.8% and 99.0% 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 505 positions we hold weights for in SPYM and 2 in TENJ, against full books of 509 and 8.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

SPYMTENJ

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPYM or TENJ?

SPYM has an expense ratio of 0.02% while TENJ charges 0.50%. SPYM is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPYM or TENJ?

Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% vs +13.95% for TENJ, so SPYM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SPYM or TENJ?

SPYM has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 8.4% for TENJ.

Should I hold both SPYM and TENJ?

SPYM and TENJ have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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, SPYM or TENJ?

SPYM yields 1.01% while TENJ yields 0.23%, so SPYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is TENJ better than SPYM?

SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.