ABLS vs SPY
Abacus FCF Small Cap Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ABLS or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ABLS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $448,100.93 | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 49 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.36% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.29% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.3% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $9,441 | $12,759Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Abacus FCF Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 18, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 19, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.6 years).
ABLS vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.6 years both funds cover.
ABLS vs SPY Performance
Abacus FCF Small Cap Leaders ETF (ABLS) is an ETF from Abacus FCF Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ABLS returned -0.29% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, ABLS is up 4.36% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ABLS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 13.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -19.3% for ABLS and -18.8% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ABLS charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ABLS currently yields 0.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 46 holdings in ABLS and 504 in SPY, totalling 97.3% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in ABLS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ABLS (99.3% of the fund), and 45 for ABLS that do not appear in SPY (96.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ABLS and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ABLS or SPY?
ABLS has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ABLS or SPY?
Over the past year ABLS returned -0.29% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ABLS annualized -3.53% vs +16.45% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ABLS or SPY?
ABLS has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ABLS -19.3% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both ABLS and SPY?
ABLS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ABLS or SPY?
ABLS yields 0.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ABLS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.