SPYM vs XLYI

SPYM vs XLYI

Which is better, SPYM or XLYI?

SPYM has been ahead.

SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: SPYMHigher Returns: 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

MetricSPYMXLYI
Expense Ratio0.02%Best0.35%
AUM$185.2B$31M
Dividend Yield1.01%15.74%
Holdings5097
YTD Return+13.57%Best-1.01%
1Y Return+17.53%Best+0.00%
3Y Return (annualized)+22.46%-
5Y Return (annualized)+13.29%-
Volatility (annualized)11.9%11.7%Best
Max Drawdown-8.9%Best-12.3%
$10,000 over 1.2 years$12,289Best$10,412
Fund FamilyState Street Investment ManagementState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionNov 8, 2005Jul 29, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).

SPYM vs XLYI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.

Compare SPYM against instead:SPYM vs SPYSPYM vs QQQSPYM vs VOOSPYM vs VTIXLYI against:XLYI vs VXUS

SPYM vs XLYI Performance

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLYI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% while XLYI returned +0.00%. Year to date, SPYM is up 13.57% versus a loss of 1.01% for XLYI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 11.7% for XLYI. 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 SPYM and -12.3% for XLYI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SPYM charges 0.02% per year while XLYI charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $35 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPYM currently yields 1.01% against 15.74% for XLYI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 505 holdings in SPYM and 1 in XLYI, 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 1 in XLYI, against full books of 509 and 7.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

SPYMXLYI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPYM or XLYI?

SPYM has an expense ratio of 0.02% while XLYI charges 0.35%. SPYM is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPYM or XLYI?

Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% vs +0.00% for XLYI, so SPYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SPYM annualized +18.74% vs +3.42% for XLYI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SPYM or XLYI?

SPYM has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 11.7% for XLYI. Worst drawdown: SPYM -8.9% vs XLYI -12.3%.

Should I hold both SPYM and XLYI?

SPYM and XLYI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, SPYM or XLYI?

SPYM yields 1.01% while XLYI yields 15.74%, so XLYI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is XLYI better than SPYM?

SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM 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.