Are APXM and SPY in the same category?

APXM is a buffer ETF and SPY is a stock ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.

Which returned more over the last year, APXM or SPY?

In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, APXM returned +4.9% and SPY +13.6%.

Which is cheaper, APXM or SPY?

SPY is cheaper, by 0.76 percentage points a year. That is about $76 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Data as of Oct 28, 2026.

Across categories

APXM vs SPY: Differences, Returns & Fees

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Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, APXM returned +4.9% to SPY's +13.6%, and SPY charges 0.09% to APXM's 0.85%.

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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $22m for FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April and $814.8bn for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust.

APXM on its own →SPY on its own →

At a glance

+4.9%

APXM total return, 1 year

+13.6%

SPY total return, 1 year

0.85%

APXM expense ratio

0.09%

SPY expense ratio

Pair scorecard

SPY costs 0.76 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 8.7 points; SPY is far larger, $814.8bn against $22m.

APXM vs SPY: Differences, Returns & Fees
Measure	APXM	SPY
Return
Measure	APXM	SPY
Total return, 1 year	+4.9%	+13.6%
Drawdown
Measure	APXM	SPY
Index fall to the buffer	8.1%
Fund price fall to the buffer	3.7%
Benchmark
Measure	APXM	SPY
What it tracks	SPY	S&P 500 Index
The outcome period
Measure	APXM	SPY
Buffer left, in index points	50.1% of 50.1%
Days left in the period	170
Period ends	Apr 16, 2027
Cost and size
Measure	APXM	SPY
Expense ratio	0.85%	0.09%
Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026	$22m	$814.8bn
Holdings
Measure	APXM	SPY
Holdings in common	not published
In the S&P 500, by weight		100%
Top ten holdings, share of the fund		38.1%

Method

Side by side

APXM FT Vest U.S. Equity Max Buffer ETF - April SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust

Where it sits Buffer ETF Stock ETF

Issuer First Trust State Street

What it is Defined outcome, 50% on SPY Tracks the S&P 500

Total return, 1 year +4.9% +13.6%

Its benchmark over the same days +12.4% (SPY) +13.7% (VOO)

Gap to its benchmark −7.5 pts vs SPY −0.1 pts vs VOO

Expense ratio 0.85% 0.09%

Holdings not read by ETFIQ 504

Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 $22m $814.8bn

APXM and SPY on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

Alert

About each fund

APXM

SPY had already risen past this fund's cap of +7.0% for the period on Oct 28, 2026, so in index terms there is no more upside to collect. The fund's own price can still drift up to about 3.1% as the period runs out.

The fund's price can fall 3.7% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, SPY can fall 8.1% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 50.1% of the 50.1% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 170 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Apr 16, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

SPY

SPY tracks the S&P 500. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +13.6% with distributions reinvested, against +13.7% for its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 100% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 504 positions, with the top ten at 38.1%.

Questions people ask

Are APXM and SPY in the same category?: APXM is a buffer ETF and SPY is a stock ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
Which returned more over the last year, APXM or SPY?: In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, APXM returned +4.9% and SPY +13.6%.
Which is cheaper, APXM or SPY?: SPY is cheaper, by 0.76 percentage points a year. That is about $76 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.

Other comparisons

APXM vs IVV APXM vs VOO APXM vs SPYM DLNV vs SPY DLAG vs SPY CPSP vs SPY SPY vs XMAY DDTD vs SPY

Where to next

APXM on its own →SPY on its own →Hold both: look the portfolio through →Rankings →SPY dividend history →SPY holdings →Standards and sources →

Sources and dates

APXM filings on SEC EDGAR ↗

First Trust page for APXM ↗

SPY filings on SEC EDGAR ↗

State Street website ↗

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

Cite this pageCitation, APA and Markdown

ETFIQ, APXM against SPY, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/apxm-vs-spy

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