ASHS vs SPY
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 500 China A-Shares Small Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ASHS or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASHS is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | ASHS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $34M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 496 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.04% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.03% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.88% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.10% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.5% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,950 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 21, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2014 to Sep 14, 2026 (12.3 years).
ASHS 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
ASHS vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers Harvest CSI 500 China A-Shares Small Cap ETF (ASHS) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ASHS returned +13.03% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, ASHS is up 5.04% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, ASHS compounded at +13.88% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.10% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.64% annualized vs +5.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASHS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.5% compared with 14.8% 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 -69.9% for ASHS 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 0.35. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASHS 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, ASHS currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 490 holdings in ASHS and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.3% and 99.9% 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 490 positions we hold weights for in ASHS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 496 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ASHS (99.3% of the fund), and 0 for ASHS that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 ASHS 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, ASHS or SPY?
ASHS 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, ASHS or SPY?
Over the past year ASHS returned +13.03% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ASHS annualized +5.21% vs +12.64% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASHS or SPY?
ASHS has been the more volatile fund at 27.5% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ASHS -69.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ASHS and SPY?
ASHS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.35, 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, ASHS or SPY?
ASHS yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ASHS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ASHS is less concentrated, with 9.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.