# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform SPY in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## Key findings

- How hard it was to top SPY: It was difficult for ETFs but less so for stocks. Of the 954 eligible ETFs and 1,502 eligible stocks from a screen of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, 42 ETFs (4.4%) and 225 stocks (15%) outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. A smaller group held up across nearly every period: 13 ETFs and 80 stocks outperformed in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: QQQ qualified with 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods ahead of SPY. ARKK fell short with 1 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while SCHD led in the short term with 5 of 5 but managed 0 of 3 long-term periods. VOO and IVV, which track the same index as SPY, tied it in every period.
  - Top ETFs: Technology and broad-market funds were prominent among the leaders, alongside international, commodity, and energy funds. DXJ, BNO, and CRAK outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods, while IYW did so in 4 of 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
  - Top stocks: 225 stocks qualified. The standout names in the table include healthcare companies NTRA and LLY, energy companies CVI and MPC, and consumer staples company COKE. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over the 5-year period, every one of the top 15 ETFs and top 10 stocks had higher volatility than SPY. The ETF group had a median volatility of 26.1% versus 17.1% for SPY, while the stock group’s median volatility was 47.0%. Still, most had higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of return relative to risk: 10 of 15 ETFs and 7 of 10 stocks topped SPY’s 0.79.

## How popular alternatives compare

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SPY: State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) |  |  | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| [QQQ](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| ARKK: ARK Innovation ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 2/3 long | −8.0% | +11.3% | +5.2% | +6.5% | −7.3% | +132% | −28.5% | +340% | 46.8% | 0.09 |
| [VUG](https://easycompare.io/research/vug): Vanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.5% | +4.0% | +8.2% | +9.8% | +10.2% | +100% | +78.6% | +419% | 22.5% | 0.63 |
| [SCHD](https://easycompare.io/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | Fell short | 5/5 short, 0/3 long | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3% | 0.72 |
| [VTV](https://easycompare.io/research/vtv): Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.6% | +4.0% | +11.0% | +18.2% | +22.5% | +77.9% | +76.6% | +235% | 13.7% | 0.90 |
| [DGRO](https://easycompare.io/research/dgro): iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | +2.8% | +3.9% | +9.4% | +15.1% | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | +267% | 13.7% | 0.83 |
| [VYM](https://easycompare.io/research/vym): Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.1% | +1.7% | +5.1% | +13.3% | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | +208% | 13.8% | 0.85 |
| [DIA](https://easycompare.io/research/dia): State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8% | 0.72 |
| [RSP](https://easycompare.io/research/rsp): Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | +1.5% | +2.0% | +6.7% | +13.3% | +15.5% | +65.4% | +48.6% | +211% | 16.1% | 0.57 |
| [VOO](https://easycompare.io/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Same index | about the same returns | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 |
| [IVV](https://easycompare.io/research/ivv): iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | Same index | about the same returns | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0% | 0.80 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [SCHB](https://easycompare.io/research/schb): Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −0.9% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +88.0% | +72.9% | +286% | 17.3% | 0.72 |
| [VT](https://easycompare.io/research/vt): Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.9% | +2.5% | +5.5% | +12.0% | +15.0% | +83.8% | +63.3% | +223% | 16.2% | 0.69 |
| [IWM](https://easycompare.io/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [VXUS](https://easycompare.io/research/vxus): Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4% | 0.57 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed SPY

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Expense | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SPY: State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) |  | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |  |  |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1% | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9% | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://easycompare.io/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0% | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://easycompare.io/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0% | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1% | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5% | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1% | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2% | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1% | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| GREK: Global X - MSCI Greece ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6% | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://easycompare.io/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9% | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed SPY

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Market cap |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SPY: State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (benchmark) |  | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.0% | +43.2% | +49.3% | +177% | +144% | +215% | +726% | +1,194% | 49.7% | 1.10 | $11B |
| ANF: Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9% | 0.77 | $6.9B |

## What stands out

The ETF leaders were concentrated in technology, with energy, commodities, and international funds also represented. That mix points to strong results from specific sectors and exposures rather than a broad sweep across every investment type. Several leaders, including DXJ, BNO, and CRAK, stayed ahead across all measured short- and long-term periods, while popular funds such as SCHD and VTV had short-term strength but did not top SPY in any of the long-term periods.

The stock leaders were also concentrated, especially in healthcare, with energy companies among the standouts. Their long-term results suggest the lead was not limited to recent periods, but the ride was much bumpier: the top stocks’ median volatility was 47.0%, roughly double or more than SPY’s 17.1%. Most still had higher Sharpe ratios than SPY, though that was not true of every winner. Past results do not show whether these patterns will continue.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-aapl)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed META (Meta Platforms)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-meta)

## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt