SPY vs. JNJ
SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, SPY returned 15.42%/yr vs 10.46%/yr for JNJ. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
SPY vs. JNJ - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPY achieves a 9.07% return, which is significantly lower than JNJ's 17.68% return. Over the past 10 years, SPY has outperformed JNJ with an annualized return of 15.42%, while JNJ has yielded a comparatively lower 10.46% annualized return.
SPY
- 1D
- 0.54%
- 1M
- -0.08%
- YTD
- 9.07%
- 6M
- 9.42%
- 1Y
- 24.27%
- 3Y*
- 20.86%
- 5Y*
- 13.36%
- 10Y*
- 15.42%
JNJ
- 1D
- 1.07%
- 1M
- 5.14%
- YTD
- 17.68%
- 6M
- 15.11%
- 1Y
- 57.60%
- 3Y*
- 17.82%
- 5Y*
- 10.94%
- 10Y*
- 10.46%
SPY vs. JNJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 9.07% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 17.68% | 47.48% | -4.81% | -8.58% | 5.97% | 11.44% | 10.82% | 16.22% | -5.13% | 24.43% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPY and JNJ 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 | 0.05 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.32 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 29, 1993 | 0.43 |
The correlation between SPY and JNJ shifts across timeframes, from -0.02 (1 year) to 0.43 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SPY vs. JNJ — Risk / Return Rank
SPY
JNJ
SPY vs. JNJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). 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.
| SPY | JNJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.44 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.61 | -0.25 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.74 | 5.28 | -2.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.39 | 15.52 | -3.13 |
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Drawdowns
SPY vs. JNJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPY drawdown since its inception was -55.19%, which is greater than JNJ's maximum drawdown of -50.67%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPY and JNJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPY | JNJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.19% | -50.67% | -4.52% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.88% | -10.96% | +2.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.76% | -15.95% | -2.81% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.50% | -18.41% | -6.09% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.72% | -27.37% | -6.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.35% | -2.54% | +0.19% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.04% | -11.90% | +2.86% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.97% | 3.72% | -1.75% |
Volatility
SPY vs. JNJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 4.34%, while Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has a volatility of 5.47%. This indicates that SPY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than JNJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SPY | JNJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.34% | 5.47% | -1.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.58% | 12.16% | -2.58% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.29% | 16.94% | -4.65% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 16.87% | +0.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.96% | 18.48% | -0.52% |
Dividends
SPY vs. JNJ - Dividend Comparison
SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.00%, less than JNJ's 2.18% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JNJ Johnson & Johnson | 2.18% | 2.48% | 3.40% | 3.00% | 2.52% | 2.45% | 2.53% | 2.57% | 2.74% | 2.38% | 2.73% | 2.87% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.00% | 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
SPY and JNJ 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.
JNJ has higher volatility (5.47%) compared to SPY (4.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPY dropped -55.19% vs JNJ's -50.67%.
JNJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.42 vs 1.98), 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.
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