BILS vs. SPYM

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

BILS (SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF) and SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - BILS is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPYM is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, BILS returned 3.29%/yr vs 13.91%/yr for SPYM. At a correlation of -0.01, they often move in opposite directions. BILS charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.02%/yr for SPYM.

Performance

BILS vs. SPYM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BILS achieves a 1.40% return, which is significantly lower than SPYM's 10.98% return.

BILS

• 1D: -0.01%
• 1M: 0.28%
• YTD: 1.40%
• 6M: 1.73%
• 1Y: 3.90%
• 3Y*: 4.66%
• 5Y*: 3.29%
• 10Y*: —

SPYM

• 1D: -0.66%
• 1M: 5.06%
• YTD: 10.98%
• 6M: 10.98%
• 1Y: 28.09%
• 3Y*: 22.46%
• 5Y*: 13.91%
• 10Y*: 15.62%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BILS vs. SPYM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	1.40%	4.23%	5.17%	4.92%	0.90%	-0.08%	0.00%
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF	10.98%	17.79%	25.00%	26.24%	-18.09%	28.78%	16.14%

Correlation

The correlation between BILS and SPYM is 0.02, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.02
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.01
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.01
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2020	-0.01

Return for Risk

BILS vs. SPYM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BILS

BILS Risk / Return Rank: 100
BILS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Sortino Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Omega Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Calmar Ratio Rank: 100
BILS Martin Ratio Rank: 100

SPYM

SPYM Risk / Return Rank: 70
SPYM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
SPYM Sortino Ratio Rank: 70
SPYM Omega Ratio Rank: 71
SPYM Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
SPYM Martin Ratio Rank: 76

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BILS vs. SPYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	BILS	SPYM	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	16.80	2.39	+14.40
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	100.82	3.27	+97.56
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	42.08	1.44	+40.64
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	129.91	3.17	+126.74
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	1,442.41	14.76	+1,427.65
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

BILS vs. SPYM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BILS Sharpe Ratio is 16.80, which is higher than the SPYM Sharpe Ratio of 2.39. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BILS and SPYM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	BILS	SPYM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.80	2.39	+14.40
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	10.79	0.83	+9.96
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.87	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	9.79	0.62	+9.18

Drawdowns

BILS vs. SPYM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BILS drawdown since its inception was -0.41%, smaller than the maximum SPYM drawdown of -54.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BILS and SPYM.

Drawdown Indicators

	BILS	SPYM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-0.41%	-54.46%	+54.05%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.03%	-8.90%	+8.87%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-0.04%	-18.72%	+18.68%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-0.38%	-24.48%	+24.10%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-33.87%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.01%	-0.66%	+0.65%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.04%	-7.15%	+7.11%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.00%	1.91%	-1.91%

Volatility

BILS vs. SPYM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF (BILS) is 0.06%, while State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) has a volatility of 2.83%. This indicates that BILS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPYM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BILS	SPYM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.06%	2.83%	-2.77%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.14%	8.90%	-8.76%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.23%	11.80%	-11.57%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	0.31%	16.80%	-16.49%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	0.30%	18.00%	-17.70%

BILS vs. SPYM - Expense Ratio Comparison

BILS has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is higher than SPYM's 0.02% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

BILS vs. SPYM - Dividend Comparison

BILS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.81%, more than SPYM's 1.00% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BILS SPDR Bloomberg 3-12 Month T-Bill ETF	3.81%	4.08%	5.01%	4.98%	1.61%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF	1.00%	1.13%	1.28%	1.44%	1.69%	1.25%	1.54%	1.79%	2.23%	1.75%	1.97%	1.98%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BILS and SPYM in my portfolio?

BILS and SPYM have a correlation of 0.02, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BILS or SPYM?

SPYM has higher volatility (2.83%) compared to BILS (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BILS dropped -0.41% vs SPYM's -54.46%.

Which ETF is better, BILS or SPYM?

On 5-year performance, SPYM leads with 13.91% vs 3.29% for BILS. On fees, SPYM is cheaper at 0.02% per year. On volatility, BILS has been the lower-risk option at 0.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, BILS or SPYM?

Over the 5-year period, SPYM has performed better with a 13.91% return vs 3.29%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, BILS or SPYM?

SPYM is cheaper with a 0.02% expense ratio, compared with 0.14% for BILS.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, BILS or SPYM?

BILS has the higher dividend yield at 3.81%, compared with 1.00% for SPYM.

What is the main difference between BILS and SPYM?

BILS is categorized as Ultrashort Bond, while SPYM is S&P 500. BILS tracks Bloomberg 3-12 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index, while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.14% for BILS and 0.02% for SPYM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BILS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (16.80 vs 2.39), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.