If you’ve ever searched for an easy, reliable way to invest in the U.S. stock market, chances are you’ve come across SPY, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust.

Launched in 1993 by State Street, SPY isn’t just one of the oldest ETFs out there, it’s also one of the biggest and most heavily traded.

But with a price of $588.45 as of May 15, 2025, and a 52-week high of $611.39, you might be wondering: Is SPY still worth it?

I guess.

SPY Tracks the S&P 500 Index

It gives investors exposure to 500 of the largest, most influential companies in the U.S. This includes household names like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan Chase. That means when you buy SPY, you’re essentially buying a piece of the U.S. economy.

It’s a Large-Cap Blend ETF, meaning it holds both growth and value stocks, but with a tilt toward mega-cap tech and growth names.

SPY’s Numbers (They’re doing pretty well)

Price: $588.45

Expense Ratio: 0.09% (low, but not the lowest)

Assets Under Management (AUM): $576+ Billion

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Average Daily Volume: 17 M+ (extremely liquid)

Inception Date: January 22, 1993

Investors Like You Seem to Love SPY

SPY is one of the most actively traded ETFs on the planet. That means tight bid/ask spreads and easy entry/exit for traders and long-term investors alike.

It is great for anyone who wants to invest in America’s economy without picking individual stocks. Are you that person?

Over the decades, the S&P 500 has delivered consistent, compounding returns. In 2025, SPY is holding near all-time highs, a testament to its long-term strength.

SPY is Tech-heavy. That means…

It has significant exposure to information technology (think Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft), healthcare, financials, and consumer spending.
This positioning means SPY has benefited from the ongoing AI boom, fintech expansion, and resilient consumer spending in the post-pandemic economy.

However, that also means SPY is vulnerable to tech corrections or rising interest rates, which can hit growth stocks hard.

You Should Consider SPY in 2025

If you’re looking for a time-tested, ultra-liquid, market-beating ETF with broad exposure to America’s biggest companies.
But remember, it is not the cheapest; it is tech-heavy, so be ready for volatility, and it is best for long-term investors, not short-term gamblers.

If you’re after simplicity, diversification, and market-level returns, SPY continues to deliver. It’s not flashy. It’s not exotic. But it’s powerful.