AFMC vs SPY
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AFMC or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFMC led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AFMC is less concentrated, with 11.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | AFMC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $214M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.69% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 526 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.39%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +20.43%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.71% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.77% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,677 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 4, 2019 to Sep 8, 2026 (6.8 years).
AFMC 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 6.8 years both funds cover.
AFMC vs SPY Performance
First Trust Active Factor Mid Cap ETF (AFMC) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AFMC returned +20.43% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, AFMC is up 17.39% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, AFMC compounded at +19.71% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.77% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.49% annualized vs +12.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFMC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 16.9% 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 -42.1% for AFMC 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFMC charges 0.68% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $9 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFMC currently yields 0.69% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
15.3% of AFMC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings AFMC also owns.
AFMC and SPY share little of their money.
39 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in AFMC and 503 in SPY, against full books of 526 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 454 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AFMC (98.1% of the fund), and 216 for AFMC that do not appear in SPY (79.8%).
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 AFMC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASYCasey's General Stores Inc | 1.33% | 0.05% | 1.28% |
| FIXComfort Systems Usa Inc Common Stock | 0.73% | 0.09% | 0.64% |
| CFCf Industries Ho | 0.74% | 0.03% | 0.71% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.70% | 0.02% | 0.68% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts | 0.66% | 0.02% | 0.64% |
| NTAPNetapp | 0.60% | 0.06% | 0.54% |
| FFIVF5 Inc | 0.61% | 0.03% | 0.58% |
| TPRTapestry Inc | 0.59% | 0.05% | 0.54% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.53% | 0.10% | 0.43% |
| GLGlobe Life Inc. | 0.60% | 0.02% | 0.58% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFMC 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, AFMC or SPY?
AFMC has an expense ratio of 0.68% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFMC or SPY?
Over the past year AFMC returned +20.43% vs +19.36% for SPY, so AFMC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AFMC annualized +12.06% vs +15.49% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFMC or SPY?
AFMC has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 16.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AFMC -42.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AFMC and SPY?
AFMC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 AFMC and SPY?
15.3% of AFMC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's is in holdings AFMC also owns. They hold 39 positions in common, counted across the 262 positions we hold weights for in AFMC and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFMC or SPY?
AFMC yields 0.69% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AFMC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFMC led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. AFMC is less concentrated, with 11.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.