Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
SPYM vs USEP: how they differ
Over the year SPYM returned more, +17.6% against +9.2%, and USEP charges 0.79% against 1.30%.
State Street(R) SPDR(R) Portfolio S&P 500(R) ETF and Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Sep.
| SPYM State Street(R) SPDR(R) Portfolio S&P 500(R) ETF | USEP Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Buffer ETF |
| Issuer | State Street | Innovator |
| What it is | S&P 500 | Defined outcome, 5% to 35% on SPY |
| Total return, 1 year | +17.6% | +9.2% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.1 pts | −8.3 pts |
| Expense ratio | 1.30% | 0.79% |
| Holdings | 507 | not filed |
SPYM in plain words
SPYM is an index equity fund tracking the S&P 500. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +17.6% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 1.30% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 100% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 507 positions, with the top ten at 38.1%.
USEP in plain words
From its price on Sep 13, 2026, the fund can gain about 14.8% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 4.9% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, SPY can fall 4.7% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 30.0% of the 30.0% buffer still sits below today's SPY level. 354 days remained on Sep 13, 2026. On Aug 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, SPYM or USEP?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, SPYM returned +17.6% and USEP returned +9.2%, so SPYM returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, SPYM or USEP?
- SPYM charges 1.30% a year and USEP charges 0.79%, so USEP is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are SPYM and USEP the same kind of fund?
- No. SPYM is an index ETF and USEP is a buffer ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
Other comparisons
Where to next
Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, SPYM against USEP, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/spym-vs-usep Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources