ACES vs SPY
ALPS Clean Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ACES or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%.
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 | ACES | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $110M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 38 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -10.64% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.16% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -9.27% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -14.90% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 35.1% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $4,463 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.0% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.2 years).
ACES 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 8.2 years both funds cover.
ACES vs SPY Performance
ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ACES returned +5.16% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ACES is down 10.64% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ACES compounded at -9.27% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -14.90% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.63% annualized vs +2.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 35.1% compared with 16.6% 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 -79.0% for ACES and -34.1% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACES charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACES currently yields 0.73% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
15.5% of ACES's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings ACES also owns.
ACES and SPY share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in ACES and 504 in SPY, against full books of 38 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ACES (98.0% of the fund), and 30 for ACES that do not appear in SPY (72.9%).
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 ACES 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, ACES or SPY?
ACES has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACES or SPY?
Over the past year ACES returned +5.16% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ACES annualized +2.84% vs +14.63% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACES or SPY?
ACES has been the more volatile fund at 35.1% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ACES -79.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ACES and SPY?
ACES and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 ACES and SPY?
15.5% of ACES's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings ACES also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in ACES and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACES or SPY?
ACES yields 0.73% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ACES?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.