ACLC vs SPY
American Century Large Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ACLC or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.7%.
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 | ACLC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $327M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.54% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 101 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.72% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.20% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.60% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.66% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -26.4% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,858 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.7% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | American Century Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 15, 2020 to Sep 4, 2026 (6.1 years).
ACLC 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 6.1 years both funds cover.
ACLC vs SPY Performance
American Century Large Cap Equity ETF (ACLC) is an ETF from American Century Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ACLC returned +15.20% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ACLC is up 10.72% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ACLC compounded at +16.60% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.66% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +16.68% annualized vs +14.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.4% 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 -26.4% for ACLC and -24.5% 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACLC 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, ACLC currently yields 0.54% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
97.5% of ACLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 59.3% of SPY's money is in holdings ACLC also owns.
Most of ACLC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
94 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in ACLC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 101 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 402 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ACLC (40.1% of the fund), and 4 for ACLC that do not appear in SPY (1.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ACLC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.10% | 7.71% | 0.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.75% | 6.83% | 2.08% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.54% | 5.50% | 0.04% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 6.53% | 3.33% | 3.20% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.41% | 4.08% | 0.67% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.27% | 2.97% | 0.30% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.06% | 1.51% | 0.55% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.52% | 1.94% | 0.42% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.65% | 1.33% | 0.32% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.54% | 1.44% | 0.10% |
97.5% of ACLC is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACLC or SPY?
ACLC 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, ACLC or SPY?
Over the past year ACLC returned +15.20% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ACLC annualized +14.16% vs +16.68% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACLC or SPY?
ACLC has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ACLC -26.4% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both ACLC and SPY?
ACLC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACLC and SPY?
97.5% of ACLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 59.3% of SPY's is in holdings ACLC also owns. They hold 94 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in ACLC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACLC or SPY?
ACLC yields 0.54% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ACLC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.