ACEP vs SPY
ARS Core Equity Portfolio ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ACEP or SPY?
ACEP has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ACEP led over 1Y.
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 | ACEP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.46% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $101M | $797.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 37 | 504 |
| YTD Return | +20.94%Best | +11.28% |
| 1Y Return | +32.49%Best | +13.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.54% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7% | 13.3%Best |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 20, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
ACEP 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
ACEP vs SPY Performance
ARS Core Equity Portfolio ETF (ACEP) is an ETF from ARS Investment and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ACEP returned +32.49% while SPY returned +13.46%. Year to date, ACEP is up 20.94% versus a gain of 11.28% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACEP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 13.3% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACEP charges 0.46% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $46 vs $9 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACEP currently yields 0.11% against 1.00% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 17.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ACEP also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ACEP, our book for it covers 94.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and ACEP share little of their money.
26 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in ACEP and 502 in SPY, against full books of 37 and 504.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ACEP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.42% | 7.60% | 5.18% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.61% | 2.36% | 1.25% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 3.67% | 1.39% | 2.28% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 4.23% | 0.69% | 3.54% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 4.01% | 0.25% | 3.76% |
| PHParker-Hannifin Corp. | 3.73% | 0.18% | 3.55% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.87% | 1.00% | 1.87% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Inc | 3.70% | 0.10% | 3.60% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 3.35% | 0.37% | 2.98% |
| LRCXLam Research Corporation | 3.04% | 0.44% | 2.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACEP 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, ACEP or SPY?
ACEP has an expense ratio of 0.46% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACEP or SPY?
Over the past year ACEP returned +32.49% vs +13.46% for SPY, so ACEP leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACEP or SPY?
ACEP has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 13.3% for SPY.
Should I hold both ACEP and SPY?
ACEP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACEP and SPY?
At least 17.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ACEP also owns. Our book for ACEP is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in ACEP and 502 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACEP or SPY?
ACEP yields 0.11% while SPY yields 1.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ACEP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ACEP led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.