AFOS vs SPY
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AFOS or SPY?
AFOS has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | AFOS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $301M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 33 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +28.27%Best | +12.89% |
| 1Y Return | +51.87%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.01% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,533Best | $12,568 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ARS Investment | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 24, 2026 (1.2 years).
AFOS 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
AFOS vs SPY Performance
ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF (AFOS) 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 AFOS returned +51.87% while SPY returned +17.01%. Year to date, AFOS is up 28.27% versus a gain of 12.89% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 11.9% 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 -11.8% for AFOS and -8.9% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFOS charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFOS currently yields 0.22% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
72.4% of AFOS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.8% of SPY's money is in holdings AFOS also owns.
Most of AFOS is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
21 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 33 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AFOS (65.5% of the fund), and 9 for AFOS that do not appear in SPY (25.3%).
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 AFOS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.42% | 8.01% | 3.59% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.20% | 7.26% | 5.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.61% | 5.66% | 2.05% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.38% | 2.99% | 1.39% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 6.67% | 0.17% | 6.50% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.42% | 3.79% | 1.37% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.09% | 1.60% | 2.49% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp 3.125 06/15/2060 | 4.32% | 0.55% | 3.77% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 4.60% | 0.20% | 4.40% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.84% | 1.40% | 1.44% |
72.4% of AFOS 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, AFOS or SPY?
AFOS has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFOS or SPY?
Over the past year AFOS returned +51.87% vs +17.01% for SPY, so AFOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AFOS annualized +59.67% vs +20.98% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFOS or SPY?
AFOS has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 11.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AFOS -11.8% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both AFOS and SPY?
AFOS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 AFOS and SPY?
72.4% of AFOS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.8% of SPY's is in holdings AFOS also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in AFOS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFOS or SPY?
AFOS yields 0.22% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AFOS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFOS led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.