MJ vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
MJ and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MJ is a passively managed fund by ETFMG that tracks the performance of the Prime Alternative Harvest Index. It was launched on Dec 2, 2015. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both MJ and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
MJ vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
MJ vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MJ ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF | -22.73% | 13.07% | -23.97% | -24.18% | -61.55% | -22.79% | -16.18% | -31.36% | -22.57% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -4.37% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.86% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MJ achieves a -22.73% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's -4.37% return.
MJ
- 1D
- 9.36%
- 1M
- -11.33%
- YTD
- -22.73%
- 6M
- -37.17%
- 1Y
- 20.44%
- 3Y*
- -15.21%
- 5Y*
- -37.72%
- 10Y*
- —
SPY
- 1D
- 2.91%
- 1M
- -4.94%
- YTD
- -4.37%
- 6M
- -1.82%
- 1Y
- 17.59%
- 3Y*
- 18.19%
- 5Y*
- 11.69%
- 10Y*
- 13.98%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
MJ vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
MJ has a 0.75% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MJ vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
MJ
SPY
MJ vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) 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.
| MJ | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.24 | 0.93 | -0.69 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.16 | 1.45 | -0.29 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.13 | 1.22 | -0.10 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.38 | 1.53 | -1.14 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.81 | 7.30 | -6.49 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| MJ | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 | 0.93 | -0.69 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.64 | 0.69 | -1.33 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.78 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | -0.51 | 0.56 | -1.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between MJ and SPY is 0.45, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
MJ vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
MJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.57%, more than SPY's 1.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MJ ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF | 2.57% | 1.98% | 13.80% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.14% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
MJ vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MJ drawdown since its inception was -96.55%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MJ and SPY.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| MJ | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -96.55% | -55.19% | -41.36% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -48.66% | -12.05% | -36.61% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -93.52% | -24.50% | -69.02% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.72% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -95.01% | -6.24% | -88.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -68.66% | -9.09% | -59.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 23.07% | 2.52% | +20.55% |
Volatility
MJ vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF (MJ) has a higher volatility of 18.42% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 5.31%. This indicates that MJ'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.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| MJ | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 18.42% | 5.31% | +13.11% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 59.20% | 9.47% | +49.73% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 84.94% | 19.05% | +65.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 58.89% | 17.06% | +41.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 55.44% | 17.92% | +37.52% |