BCSM vs SPY
Baron SMID Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BCSM or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BCSM is less concentrated, with 29.3% 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 | BCSM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | - | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 56 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +0.90% | +14.79%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +18.62% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.21% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.92% |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.3%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Baron Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 12, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BCSM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BCSM vs SPY Performance
Baron SMID Cap ETF (BCSM) is an ETF from Baron Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, BCSM is up 0.90% versus a gain of 14.79% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BCSM charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCSM currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
23.8% of BCSM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings BCSM also owns.
BCSM and SPY share little of their money.
16 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BCSM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 56 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BCSM (97.9% of the fund), and 33 for BCSM that do not appear in SPY (64.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BCSM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 3.40% | 0.06% | 3.34% |
| COHRCoherent Corp | 2.22% | 0.08% | 2.14% |
| EWEdwards Lifesciences Corp | 2.07% | 0.08% | 1.99% |
| HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings, Inc. | 2.03% | 0.11% | 1.92% |
| MSCIM S C I Inc. | 1.85% | 0.06% | 1.79% |
| CMGChipotle Mexican Grill Inc. Class A | 1.71% | 0.07% | 1.64% |
| WYNNWynn Resorts Ltd. | 1.63% | 0.01% | 1.62% |
| VMCVulcan Materials Co. | 1.52% | 0.05% | 1.47% |
| AMEAmetek Inc | 1.23% | 0.08% | 1.15% |
| ROLRollins Inc. | 1.25% | 0.02% | 1.23% |
23.8% of BCSM is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BCSM or SPY?
BCSM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between BCSM and SPY?
23.8% of BCSM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings BCSM also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in BCSM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCSM or SPY?
BCSM yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BCSM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BCSM is less concentrated, with 29.3% 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.