AIRR vs SPY
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AIRR or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AIRR led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y. AIRR is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | AIRR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $9.0B | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.10% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 116 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +6.53% | +14.93%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.05% | +17.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.09%Best | +23.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +21.46%Best | +13.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.2% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $26,434Best | $19,153 |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.4%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 10, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 11, 2014 to Oct 6, 2026 (12.6 years).
AIRR 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 12.6 years both funds cover.
AIRR vs SPY Performance
First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF (AIRR) 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 AIRR returned +10.05% while SPY returned +17.25%. Year to date, AIRR is up 6.53% versus a gain of 14.93% for SPY.
Over three years, AIRR compounded at +29.09% per year against +23.24% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +21.46% and +13.88% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, AIRR has the edge at +14.59% annualized vs +12.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIRR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.2% compared with 14.6% 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 -42.4% for AIRR 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIRR charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIRR currently yields 0.10% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
5.5% of AIRR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings AIRR also owns.
AIRR and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIRR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 116 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AIRR (99.2% of the fund), and 55 for AIRR that do not appear in SPY (94.2%).
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 AIRR 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, AIRR or SPY?
AIRR has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIRR or SPY?
Over the past year AIRR returned +10.05% vs +17.25% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), AIRR annualized +14.59% vs +12.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIRR or SPY?
AIRR has been the more volatile fund at 24.2% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AIRR -42.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AIRR and SPY?
AIRR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 AIRR and SPY?
5.5% of AIRR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings AIRR also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in AIRR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIRR or SPY?
AIRR yields 0.10% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AIRR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AIRR led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y. AIRR is less concentrated, with 30.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.