BRO vs. SPY

Last updated Jul 21, 2026

BRO (Brown & Brown, Inc.) is a stock, while SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, BRO returned 15.04%/yr vs 14.90%/yr for SPY. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

BRO vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRO achieves a -13.05% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 9.40% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with BRO having a 15.04% annualized return and SPY not far behind at 14.90%.

BRO

• 1D: -0.59%
• 1M: 16.65%
• 6M: -13.38%
• YTD: -13.05%
• 1Y: -33.02%
• 3Y*: -0.37%
• 5Y*: 6.03%
• 10Y*: 15.04%
• ALL TIME*: 14.93%

SPY

• 1D: -0.16%
• 1M: -0.62%
• 6M: 7.86%
• YTD: 9.40%
• 1Y: 19.56%
• 3Y*: 19.43%
• 5Y*: 12.81%
• 10Y*: 14.90%
• ALL TIME*: 10.78%

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

BRO vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRO Brown & Brown, Inc.	-13.05%	-21.37%	44.32%	25.73%	-18.39%	49.31%	21.06%	44.67%	8.30%	16.15%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	9.40%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between BRO and SPY is -0.14, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.14
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.17
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.40
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.49
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 29, 1993	0.41

The correlation between BRO and SPY shifts across timeframes, from -0.14 (1 year) to 0.49 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

BRO vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

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

BRO

BRO Risk / Return Rank: 11
BRO Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4
BRO Sortino Ratio Rank: 7
BRO Omega Ratio Rank: 7
BRO Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
BRO Martin Ratio Rank: 18

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 63
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 62
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 72

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.

BRO vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BRO	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-1.09	1.56	-2.65
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-1.48	2.17	-3.65
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.81	1.28	-0.47
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.71	2.21	-2.92
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-1.17	9.59	-10.76

BRO vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRO Sharpe Ratio is -1.09, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.56. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRO and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BRO vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRO drawdown since its inception was -55.85%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRO and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRO	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-55.85%	-55.19%	-0.66%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-46.93%	-8.88%	-38.05%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-55.85%	-18.76%	-37.09%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-55.85%	-24.50%	-31.35%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-55.85%	-33.72%	-22.13%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-44.02%	-2.05%	-41.97%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-13.63%	-9.02%	-4.61%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	28.61%	2.04%	+26.57%

Volatility

BRO vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO) has a higher volatility of 11.02% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 3.45%. This indicates that BRO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRO	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	11.02%	3.45%	+7.57%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	23.89%	10.06%	+13.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	30.37%	12.64%	+17.73%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	25.27%	17.15%	+8.12%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.84%	17.94%	+5.90%

Dividends

BRO vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

BRO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.94%, less than SPY's 1.01% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRO Brown & Brown, Inc.	0.94%	0.77%	0.53%	0.67%	0.74%	0.54%	0.73%	0.82%	1.11%	1.08%	1.12%	1.41%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	1.01%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRO and SPY in my portfolio?

BRO and SPY have a correlation of -0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRO or SPY?

BRO has higher volatility (11.02%) compared to SPY (3.45%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRO dropped -55.85% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.56 vs -1.09), 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.