SPY.USvsXYLD.US

10-Year Study
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust()
Global X S&P 500® Covered Call ETF()

The Verdict

Over the synchronized 10-year period measured, neither historically led across 11 distinct risk and return vectors.
SPY.US generated a 10-year CAGR of 13.3% (Max Drawdown: 23.9%), while XYLD.US generated 7.3% (Max Drawdown: 18.2%).

SPY.US
8
metric wins
13.3% CAGR
VS
XYLD.US
3
metric wins
7.3% CAGR
Tied — very close race

Head-to-Head StatisticsiDetailed side-by-side breakdown of return and risk metrics.

10Y CAGRCAGRCompound Annual Growth Rate — the annualized rate of return over a period, accounting for compounding.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+13.3%
VS
XYLD.US
+7.3%
5Y CAGRCAGRCompound Annual Growth Rate — the annualized rate of return over a period, accounting for compounding.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+13.0%
VS
XYLD.US
+6.9%
3Y CAGRCAGRCompound Annual Growth Rate — the annualized rate of return over a period, accounting for compounding.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+20.2%
VS
XYLD.US
+10.3%
1Y CAGRCAGRCompound Annual Growth Rate — the annualized rate of return over a period, accounting for compounding.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+21.4%
VS
XYLD.US
+13.5%
Max DrawdownMax DrawdownThe largest peak-to-trough decline in the asset's value over the measurement period.Click for full definition →
lower is better
SPY.US
-23.9%
VS
XYLD.US
-18.2%
Sharpe RatioSharpe RatioRisk-adjusted return: how much excess return you earn per unit of total risk (volatility).Click for full definition →
SPY.US
0.64
VS
XYLD.US
0.35
Sortino RatioSortino RatioLike Sharpe, but only penalizes downside volatility — a more accurate risk measure for asymmetric return distributions.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
1.11
VS
XYLD.US
0.53
Ann. VolatilityAnnualized VolatilityThe annualized standard deviation of an asset's returns — a measure of how much prices fluctuate.Click for full definition →
lower is better
SPY.US
+15.8%
VS
XYLD.US
+9.1%
% Positive Years% Positive YearsThe percentage of calendar years in the measurement period where the asset delivered a positive return.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+80.0%
VS
XYLD.US
+80.0%
Dividend YieldDividend YieldAnnual dividend paid per share divided by the current share price — expressed as a percentage income return.Click for full definition →
SPY.US
+1.0%
VS
XYLD.US
+10.6%
10Y Income ($10k)
SPY.US
$1,529
VS
XYLD.US
$266
BetaBetaA measure of an asset's sensitivity to broad market movements relative to a benchmark (e.g. S&P 500).Click for full definition →
lower = less market sensitivity
SPY.US
1.00
VS
XYLD.US
0.41

Historical Trajectory

Growth of $10,000 Over 10 Years

Annual Returns Comparison

Performance Consistency

Rolling 12-Month Returns

Risk & Factor X-Ray AnalysisiAnalyzes downside volatility and macro factor exposures.

Historical Drawdowns

Return Correlation

86%
Pearson Correlation Coefficient

Moderately correlated. They share macro drivers but offer identifiable divergence.

Risk X-Ray Macro Factor Exposure Mapping

SPY.US Factor Exposure
XYLD.US Factor Exposure

Fundamentals, Quality & IncomeiSide-by-side fundamental valuation, corporate health, and 10-year income generation.

Fundamentals Radar

Valuation & Quality Matrix

P/E Ratio
22.1
22.1
Forward P/EForward P/E RatioA valuation metric that compares the current stock price to estimated future earnings per share.Click for full definition →Next 12M Estimate
22.1xC
22.1xC
Squeeze RiskShort Squeeze RiskA situation where a sharp rise in the price of a stock forces short sellers to buy shares to cover their positions, further driving up the price.Click for full definition →
Low
Low
Piotroski F-ScorePiotroski F-ScoreA 9-point scoring system evaluating a company's financial strength across profitability, leverage, and operating efficiency.Click for full definition →
0
0
Altman Z-ScoreAltman Z-ScoreA bankruptcy prediction model that combines 5 financial ratios into a single score indicating financial distress risk.Click for full definition →
1.3
1.3
Market Cap
$505.7B
$509.2B

10-Year Income Simulation ($10k)

Dividend YieldDividend YieldAnnual dividend paid per share divided by the current share price — expressed as a percentage income return.Click for full definition →
1.0%
10.6%
Total Income Gen
$1,529
$266

Momentum & Macro PositioningiCompares relative price trends, moving averages, and market sensitivity.

50-Day SMA

SPY.US+6.0%
XYLD.US+1.1%

200-Day SMA

SPY.US+8.6%
XYLD.US+4.1%

Beta (Market Risk)

SPY.US1.00
XYLD.US0.41

Trend SignalGolden Cross & Death CrossTechnical chart patterns that occur when a short-term moving average crosses over a long-term moving average.Click for full definition →

SPY.US
GOLDEN CROSS
XYLD.US
GOLDEN CROSS

RSI (14-Day)Relative Strength Index (RSI)A momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements to identify overbought or oversold conditions.Click for full definition →

SPY.US
68
Neutral
XYLD.US
48
Neutral

Frequently Asked Questions

How did SPY.US compare to XYLD.US historically?

SPY.US and XYLD.US performed comparably over the measured period. Neither clearly dominated across all risk and return metrics. The right choice depends on your individual investment goals, income needs, and risk tolerance.

What is the 10-year CAGR of SPY.US vs XYLD.US?

Over the 2021–2026 study period, SPY.US produced an annualized return (CAGR) of 13.3% while XYLD.US produced 7.3%. A ${10,000} investment in SPY.US would have grown to approximately $18,652, compared to $14,206 for XYLD.US.

What is the maximum drawdown of SPY.US vs XYLD.US?

SPY.US experienced a peak-to-trough drawdown of 23.9% (2022 was its worst year at -18.2%), versus 18.2% for XYLD.US (worst year 2022 at -12.0%). A smaller maximum drawdown indicates lower downside risk and is particularly important for investors close to or in retirement.

How correlated are SPY.US and XYLD.US?

SPY.US and XYLD.US have a Pearson return correlation of 86% over the study period. This moderate correlation means the ETFs share broad market drivers but show identifiable divergence, offering some diversification benefit when combined.

Which ETF has a better Sharpe ratio — SPY.US or XYLD.US?

SPY.US has a Sharpe ratio of 0.64 versus 0.35 for XYLD.US. The Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of risk (volatility) relative to a risk-free rate. SPY.US delivered better risk-adjusted returns over the study period. SPY.US had annualized volatility of 15.8% vs 9.1% for XYLD.US.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend — SPY.US or XYLD.US?

SPY.US has a dividend yield of 1.03%, while XYLD.US yields 10.61%. On a $10,000 investment, SPY.US paid approximately $1,529 in cumulative income vs $266 for XYLD.US over the study period. Income-focused investors should weigh dividend yield alongside total return (price appreciation + dividends), since a lower-yielding ETF can still produce superior total returns through capital gains.

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