ASCE vs SPY
Allspring SMID Core ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ASCE or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. ASCE is less concentrated, with 26.7% 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 | ASCE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $181M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 53 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +28.88%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +31.93%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.9% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $14,361Best | $12,656 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Allspring Global Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 8, 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: Jul 8, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
ASCE 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.
ASCE vs SPY Performance
Allspring SMID Core ETF (ASCE) is an ETF from Allspring Global Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ASCE returned +31.93% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ASCE is up 28.88% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 12.2% 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 -9.2% for ASCE 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCE charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCE currently yields 0.17% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
3.7% of ASCE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ASCE also owns.
ASCE and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 53 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ASCE (99.4% of the fund), and 47 for ASCE that do not appear in SPY (91.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ASCE 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, ASCE or SPY?
ASCE has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCE or SPY?
Over the past year ASCE returned +31.93% vs +19.97% for SPY, so ASCE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ASCE annualized +35.20% vs +21.69% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCE or SPY?
ASCE has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 12.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ASCE -9.2% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both ASCE and SPY?
ASCE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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 ASCE and SPY?
3.7% of ASCE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings ASCE also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in ASCE and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASCE or SPY?
ASCE yields 0.17% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ASCE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ASCE led over 1Y and the full window. ASCE is less concentrated, with 26.7% 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.