ASCI vs SPY
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ASCI or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.6% 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 | ASCI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $78M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 55 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +0.87% | +8.13%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.72% | +9.35%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.40% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 13.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.2% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $10,225 | $10,992Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.6%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 1996 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2025 to Nov 5, 2026 (1 years).
ASCI 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 years both funds cover.
ASCI vs SPY Performance
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF (ASCI) 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 ASCI returned +0.72% while SPY returned +9.35%. Year to date, ASCI is up 0.87% versus a gain of 8.13% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.3% 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 -11.2% for ASCI 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCI charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCI currently yields 0.76% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 53 holdings in ASCI and 504 in SPY, totalling 97.4% and 99.8% 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 53 positions we hold weights for in ASCI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 55 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ASCI (99.2% of the fund), and 2 for ASCI that do not appear in SPY (2.6%).
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 ASCI 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, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCI or SPY?
Over the past year ASCI returned +0.72% vs +9.35% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ASCI annualized +2.25% vs +9.92% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ASCI -11.2% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both ASCI and SPY?
ASCI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI yields 0.76% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ASCI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.6% 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.