SPYM vs. SPLV
SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) and SPLV (Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF) are both S&P 500 funds - SPYM tracks the S&P 500 Index while SPLV tracks the S&P 500 Low Volatility Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SPYM returned 15.61%/yr vs 8.38%/yr for SPLV. A 0.63 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SPYM charges 0.02%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for SPLV.
Performance
SPYM vs. SPLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SPYM achieves a 8.21% return, which is significantly higher than SPLV's 5.06% return. Over the past 10 years, SPYM has outperformed SPLV with an annualized return of 15.61%, while SPLV has yielded a comparatively lower 8.38% annualized return.
SPYM
- 1D
- -1.44%
- 1M
- -1.32%
- YTD
- 8.21%
- 6M
- 7.24%
- 1Y
- 23.73%
- 3Y*
- 20.77%
- 5Y*
- 13.13%
- 10Y*
- 15.61%
SPLV
- 1D
- 1.32%
- 1M
- 0.35%
- YTD
- 5.06%
- 6M
- 4.84%
- 1Y
- 4.45%
- 3Y*
- 8.50%
- 5Y*
- 6.37%
- 10Y*
- 8.38%
SPYM vs. SPLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 8.21% | 17.79% | 25.00% | 26.24% | -18.09% | 28.78% | 18.49% | 31.99% | -4.78% | 21.30% |
SPLV Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF | 5.06% | 4.10% | 13.93% | 0.53% | -4.88% | 24.13% | -1.39% | 27.87% | -0.19% | 17.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPYM and SPLV is 0.10, 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 | 0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.37 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 5, 2011 | 0.63 |
Over the past year, the correlation between SPYM and SPLV has dropped to 0.10 - well below their long-term average of 0.63, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
SPYM vs. SPLV — Risk / Return Rank
SPYM
SPLV
SPYM vs. SPLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) and Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV). 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.
| SPYM | SPLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.92 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.08 | +0.27 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.68 | 0.60 | +2.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.98 | 1.39 | +10.59 |
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Drawdowns
SPYM vs. SPLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPYM drawdown since its inception was -54.46%, which is greater than SPLV's maximum drawdown of -36.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPYM and SPLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SPYM | SPLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.46% | -36.26% | -18.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.90% | -7.41% | -1.49% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.72% | -9.64% | -9.08% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.48% | -17.26% | -7.22% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.87% | -36.26% | +2.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.14% | -3.47% | +0.33% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.14% | -3.55% | -3.59% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.99% | 3.20% | -1.21% |
Volatility
SPYM vs. SPLV - Volatility Comparison
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) has a higher volatility of 4.83% compared to Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (SPLV) at 4.26%. This indicates that SPYM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SPYM | SPLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.83% | 4.26% | +0.57% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.83% | 7.38% | +2.45% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.46% | 10.28% | +2.18% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.90% | 12.50% | +4.40% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.03% | 15.39% | +2.64% |
SPYM vs. SPLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
SPYM has a 0.02% expense ratio, which is lower than SPLV's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SPYM vs. SPLV - Dividend Comparison
SPYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.30%, less than SPLV's 2.16% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPLV Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF | 2.16% | 2.04% | 1.88% | 2.45% | 2.11% | 1.51% | 2.12% | 2.08% | 2.18% | 2.03% | 2.03% | 2.28% |
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 1.30% | 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
SPYM and SPLV have a correlation of 0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPYM has higher volatility (4.83%) compared to SPLV (4.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SPYM dropped -54.46% vs SPLV's -36.26%.
On 10-year performance, SPYM leads with 15.61% vs 8.38% for SPLV. On fees, SPYM is cheaper at 0.02% per year. On volatility, SPLV has been the lower-risk option at 4.26%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SPYM has performed better with a 15.61% return vs 8.38%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SPYM is cheaper with a 0.02% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for SPLV.
SPLV has the higher dividend yield at 2.16%, compared with 1.30% for SPYM.
SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index, while SPLV tracks S&P 500 Low Volatility Index. They also come from different issuers: State Street and Invesco. Their fees differ too: 0.02% for SPYM and 0.25% for SPLV.
SPYM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.92 vs 0.44), 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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