SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Price
$771.10
YTD
+12.85%
Expense
0.09%
Yield
1.25%
🇺🇸 United States
Best SPDR ETFs for 2026
Discover the best SPDR (State Street) ETFs for 2026. Compare SPY, the sector SPDRs, gold ETFs, and State Street's complete product lineup.
Complete Guide to SPDR ETFs in 2026
State Street Global Advisors launched SPY in 1993 - the world's first ETF - and the SPDR brand remains one of the most recognized in investing. With over $1 trillion in SPDR ETF assets, State Street offers a comprehensive lineup spanning broad market indices, sector funds, fixed income, commodities, and smart beta strategies.
SPY: The Original ETF
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is the world's most traded security, with average daily volume exceeding $30 billion. While it has been overtaken in AUM by VOO and IVV due to its higher expense ratio (0.09% vs 0.03%), SPY remains the preferred vehicle for institutional traders and options players due to its unmatched liquidity.
The Sector SPDR Suite
The 11 Select Sector SPDRs slice the S&P 500 into individual sector ETFs, allowing investors to overweight or underweight specific sectors. XLK (Technology), XLF (Financials), XLE (Energy), XLV (Healthcare), XLI (Industrials), XLY (Consumer Discretionary), XLP (Consumer Staples), XLU (Utilities), XLRE (Real Estate), XLC (Communication Services), and XLB (Materials).
GLD: The Gold Standard
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is the world's largest gold ETF with $60+ billion in assets, backed by physical gold bars stored in London vaults. GLD provides simple, liquid exposure to gold prices without the need for physical gold ownership.
🏆 Winner — #1 pick
Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund
Price
$188.61
YTD
+16.85%
Expense
0.09%
Yield
0.62%
Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund
Price
$62.29
YTD
-2.50%
Expense
0.09%
Yield
3.45%
Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund
Price
$171.58
YTD
+8.20%
Expense
0.09%
Yield
1.55%
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund
Price
$57.88
YTD
+12.50%
Expense
0.09%
Yield
1.45%
SPDR Gold Shares
Price
$422.60
YTD
+15.20%
Expense
0.40%
Yield
0.00%
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
Price
$80.00
YTD
—
Expense
0.02%
Yield
—
Communication Services Select Sector SPDR
Price
$111.41
YTD
—
Expense
0.09%
Yield
—
Industrial Select Sector SPDR
Price
$178.80
YTD
—
Expense
0.09%
Yield
—
Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR
Price
$85.08
YTD
—
Expense
0.09%
Yield
—
Utilities Select Sector SPDR
Price
$43.18
YTD
—
Expense
0.09%
Yield
—
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR
Price
$115.88
YTD
—
Expense
0.09%
Yield
—
Frequently asked questions
What are SPDR ETFs?
SPDR ETFs are exchange-traded funds offered by State Street Global Advisors, covering broad market indices, sectors, commodities, and smart beta strategies.
What was the first SPDR ETF?
SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust), launched in 1993, was the world's first ETF and remains the most traded ETF globally.
Why invest in SPY?
SPY offers broad exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies, unmatched liquidity, and is widely used by both retail and institutional investors.
What are the Sector SPDR ETFs?
The 11 Select Sector SPDRs divide the S&P 500 into sectors such as XLK (Tech), XLF (Financials), XLE (Energy), XLV (Healthcare), and others for targeted sector investing.
Which SPDR ETF covers technology?
XLK (Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund) provides concentrated exposure to mega-cap U.S. technology companies.
Which SPDR ETF tracks healthcare?
XLV (Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund) offers exposure to pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical device companies in the S&P 500.
Which SPDR ETF tracks energy?
XLE (Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund) invests in U.S. energy companies including oil, gas, and renewable energy firms.
What is GLD?
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is the largest physically-backed gold ETF, providing exposure to gold bullion without needing to store physical gold.
How does SPLG differ from SPY?
SPLG is a low-cost S&P 500 ETF with a 0.02% expense ratio, making it a budget-friendly alternative to SPY's 0.09% fee.
Which SPDR ETF covers industrials?
XLI (Industrial Select Sector SPDR) provides exposure to aerospace, defense, machinery, transportation, and construction companies.
Which SPDR ETF focuses on consumer discretionary?
XLY (Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR) includes companies like Amazon, Tesla, Home Depot, and Nike.
Which SPDR ETF tracks consumer staples?
XLP (Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR) invests in Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Costco, and Walmart.
Which SPDR ETF focuses on financials?
XLF (Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund) targets banks, insurance, and asset management companies in the S&P 500.
Which SPDR ETF covers utilities?
XLU (Utilities Select Sector SPDR) invests in electric, gas, water, and nuclear utility companies.
Which SPDR ETF covers communication services?
XLC (Communication Services Select Sector SPDR) includes Meta, Alphabet, Netflix, Disney, Comcast, and T-Mobile.
What is the expense ratio of SPY?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09%, slightly higher than competing S&P 500 ETFs like VOO and IVV.
What is the YTD return of SPY in 2026?
As of 2026, SPY's YTD return is approximately +12.85%.
Does GLD pay dividends?
No, GLD does not pay dividends because it is a physically-backed gold ETF.
Are SPDR ETFs suitable for long-term investing?
Yes, SPDR ETFs provide diversified market and sector exposure with a long history of performance, making them suitable for long-term strategies.
How liquid are SPDR ETFs?
SPDR ETFs, especially SPY, are extremely liquid, with SPY averaging over $30 billion in daily trading volume.
Can SPDR ETFs be held in retirement accounts?
Yes, SPDR ETFs can be held in IRAs, 401(k)s, and other tax-advantaged accounts.
Which SPDR ETFs are the largest by AUM?
SPY, XLK, XLE, XLV, XLF, and GLD are among the largest SPDR ETFs by assets under management, ranging from $38B to $68B depending on the fund.