AFSC vs SPY
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AFSC or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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 | AFSC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 45 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.81%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +23.73%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.7% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,801 | $12,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.2%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 31, 1997 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 18, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.6 years).
AFSC 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
AFSC vs SPY Performance
abrdn Focused US Small Cap Active ETF (AFSC) is an ETF from Aberdeen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AFSC returned +23.73% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, AFSC is up 22.81% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AFSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.1% 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 -21.7% for AFSC and -18.8% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSC charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSC currently yields 0.06% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 43 holdings in AFSC and 503 in SPY, totalling 98.3% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in AFSC and 503 in SPY, against full books of 45 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 43 and 503 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 493 positions AFSC does not, 99.4% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSC 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, AFSC or SPY?
AFSC has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AFSC or SPY?
Over the past year AFSC returned +23.73% vs +19.36% for SPY, so AFSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AFSC annualized +16.69% vs +16.89% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AFSC or SPY?
AFSC has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AFSC -21.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both AFSC and SPY?
AFSC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSC or SPY?
AFSC yields 0.06% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AFSC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AFSC led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. AFSC is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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.