UJUL vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

UJUL (Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - UJUL is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, UJUL returned 8.61%/yr vs 12.99%/yr for SPY. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. UJUL charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

UJUL vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) 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, UJUL achieves a 4.95% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 8.25% return.

UJUL

• 1D: 0.05%
• 1M: 0.64%
• YTD: 4.95%
• 6M: 4.58%
• 1Y: 12.81%
• 3Y*: 12.41%
• 5Y*: 8.61%
• 10Y*: —

SPY

• 1D: 0.14%
• 1M: -1.92%
• YTD: 8.25%
• 6M: 6.93%
• 1Y: 22.29%
• 3Y*: 20.89%
• 5Y*: 12.99%
• 10Y*: 15.75%

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

UJUL vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
UJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July	4.95%	12.34%	13.84%	17.65%	-6.96%	4.61%	4.96%	12.99%	-5.83%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	8.25%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-11.58%

Correlation

The correlation between UJUL and SPY is 0.88, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.88
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.93
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.93
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 8, 2018	0.89

The correlation between UJUL and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

UJUL vs. SPY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	UJUL	SPY
Technology	38.4%	39.0%
Financial Services	11.0%	11.1%
Communication Services	10.8%	10.6%
Consumer Cyclical	10.0%	9.9%
Healthcare	8.4%	8.3%
Industrials	7.9%	7.8%
Consumer Defensive	4.6%	4.5%
Energy	3.2%	3.1%
Utilities	2.1%	2.1%
Real Estate	1.8%	1.8%
Basic Materials	1.7%	1.7%

Return for Risk

UJUL vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

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

UJUL

UJUL Risk / Return Rank: 87
UJUL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 88
UJUL Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
UJUL Omega Ratio Rank: 93
UJUL Calmar Ratio Rank: 73
UJUL Martin Ratio Rank: 91

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 63
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 61
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 59
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 70

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.

UJUL vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) 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.

	UJUL	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.55	1.80	+0.75
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.91	2.46	+1.45
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.55	1.33	+0.22
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.23	2.52	+0.71
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	18.75	11.15	+7.60

UJUL vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UJUL Sharpe Ratio is 2.55, which is higher than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.80. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UJUL 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

UJUL vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UJUL drawdown since its inception was -14.11%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UJUL and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	UJUL	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-14.11%	-55.19%	+41.08%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-3.98%	-8.88%	+4.90%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.38%	-18.76%	+7.38%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-11.38%	-24.50%	+13.12%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-33.72%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-3.08%	+3.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.84%	-9.03%	+7.19%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.68%	2.00%	-1.32%

Volatility

UJUL vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July (UJUL) is 0.55%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 4.79%. This indicates that UJUL experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UJUL	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.55%	4.79%	-4.24%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	3.96%	9.80%	-5.84%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	5.04%	12.43%	-7.39%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	8.12%	17.15%	-9.03%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.90%	17.95%	-9.05%

UJUL vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

UJUL has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

UJUL vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

UJUL has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	1.02%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%
UJUL Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - July	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	6.43%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UJUL and SPY in my portfolio?

UJUL and SPY have a correlation of 0.88, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UJUL or SPY?

SPY has higher volatility (4.79%) compared to UJUL (0.55%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UJUL dropped -14.11% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which ETF is better, UJUL or SPY?

On 5-year performance, SPY leads with 12.99% vs 8.61% for UJUL. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, UJUL has been the lower-risk option at 0.55%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, UJUL or SPY?

Over the 5-year period, SPY has performed better with a 12.99% return vs 8.61%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UJUL or SPY?

SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for UJUL.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UJUL or SPY?

SPY has the higher dividend yield at 1.02%, compared with 0.00% for UJUL.

What is the main difference between UJUL and SPY?

UJUL is categorized as Defined Outcome, while SPY is S&P 500. UJUL tracks S&P 500, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Innovator and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for UJUL and 0.09% for SPY.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

UJUL currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.55 vs 1.80), 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.