UL vs. SPY

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

UL (Unilever PLC) 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, UL returned 5.06%/yr vs 15.08%/yr for SPY. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

UL vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Unilever PLC (UL) 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, UL achieves a -2.45% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 10.67% return. Over the past 10 years, UL has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 5.06%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.08% annualized return.

UL

• 1D: 2.05%
• 1M: 6.25%
• 6M: -0.65%
• YTD: -2.45%
• 1Y: -4.46%
• 3Y*: 5.58%
• 5Y*: 2.00%
• 10Y*: 5.06%

SPY

• 1D: -0.54%
• 1M: 0.31%
• 6M: 9.02%
• YTD: 10.67%
• 1Y: 21.60%
• 3Y*: 20.01%
• 5Y*: 13.24%
• 10Y*: 15.08%

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

UL vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
UL Unilever PLC	-2.45%	5.96%	20.90%	-0.17%	-2.82%	-7.61%	9.04%	12.88%	-2.34%	40.15%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	10.67%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between UL and SPY is -0.01, 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	-0.01
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.12
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.25
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.31
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 29, 1993	0.41

The correlation between UL and SPY shifts across timeframes, from -0.01 (1 year) to 0.41 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

UL vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

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

UL

UL Risk / Return Rank: 35
UL Sharpe Ratio Rank: 36
UL Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
UL Omega Ratio Rank: 30
UL Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
UL Martin Ratio Rank: 38

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 65
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 65
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 65
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 73

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.

UL vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Unilever PLC (UL) 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.

	UL	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.20	1.72	-1.93
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	-0.13	2.38	-2.51
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.98	1.31	-0.33
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.18	2.44	-2.62
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.34	10.63	-10.97

UL vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UL Sharpe Ratio is -0.20, which is lower than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.72. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UL 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

UL vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UL drawdown since its inception was -53.55%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UL and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	UL	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.55%	-55.19%	+1.64%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-25.09%	-8.88%	-16.21%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.09%	-18.76%	-6.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.66%	-24.50%	-1.16%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-30.13%	-33.72%	+3.59%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-14.47%	-0.91%	-13.56%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-10.62%	-9.02%	-1.60%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	13.13%	2.04%	+11.09%

Volatility

UL vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

Unilever PLC (UL) has a higher volatility of 6.86% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 3.58%. This indicates that UL'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

	UL	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.86%	3.58%	+3.28%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.37%	10.02%	+7.35%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.18%	12.58%	+9.60%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.04%	17.17%	+3.87%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	21.52%	17.93%	+3.59%

Dividends

UL vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

UL's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.64%, more than SPY's 1.00% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
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%
UL Unilever PLC	3.64%	3.51%	3.29%	3.83%	3.57%	3.77%	3.07%	3.18%	3.49%	2.80%	3.42%	3.02%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UL and SPY in my portfolio?

UL and SPY have a correlation of -0.01, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UL or SPY?

UL has higher volatility (6.86%) compared to SPY (3.58%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UL dropped -53.55% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.72 vs -0.20), 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.