TIPS vs the S&P 500 (TIP): is it outperforming?
As of 12 October 2026, TIPS (TIP) is trailing the S&P 500, over the past month and over the longer run. TIP trails the S&P 500 by 3.3 points over one month and ranks #45 of 115 groups Zensei tracks.
Where tips stands now
As of 12 October 2026, TIPS (TIP) ranks #45 of the 115 groups Zensei tracks by one-month return against the S&P 500. It is out of favor: it trails the S&P 500 on both rotation windows — 3.3 points behind over the past month and 3.2 points behind over the longer, time-shifted window. That is the Underperformers quadrant.
On the shorter tape, TIP's momentum is weakening: the intraday trend that carried the move is cooling across the shorter windows. TIP's relative-strength line has broken below its long-term average — the long-term outperformance trend is no longer intact. Both signals point the same direction here: the market is not rewarding this group on either horizon.
The thing to watch from here is the one-month spread: underperformers only become interesting when the recent window turns positive first — until then, the market is voting elsewhere.
TIP vs SPY: head-to-head returns
Over the week to 12 October 2026, TIP rose 0.5% while the S&P 500 rose 0.4%. TIP and SPY (the S&P 500) over every window Zensei tracks. The spread is the difference: positive means TIP won that window.
Prices as of · computed from daily adjusted closes · how we measure
TIPS on the rotation map, against the 11 broad S&P 500 sectors. Vertical: 1-month spread vs the S&P 500. Horizontal: the longer, time-shifted window.
TIPS vs the market — common questions
Is tips outperforming the S&P 500?
No. As of 12 October 2026, TIP trails the S&P 500 by 3.3 points over the past month.
Is it a good time to invest in tips?
Zensei does not give investment advice, but it measures the trend. As of 12 October 2026, tips is behind the S&P 500 on both the recent and the longer window. The rotation map and the read on this page show whether that trend is building or fading.
What is TIP?
TIP is iShares TIPS Bond ETF. Zensei uses it to measure tips against the S&P 500 (SPY).
What quadrant is tips in right now?
As of 12 October 2026, tips is in the Underperformers quadrant — trailing the S&P 500 on both windows. The Zensei methodology page explains the quadrants.
Recent changes
- ·First tracked: trailing the market
Related sectors
Track tips against the whole market
Zensei Edge maps 100+ sectors and themes against the S&P 500 — with the stocks inside each one, rotation history and alerts when leadership changes hands.