CAML vs SPY

CAML vs SPY

Which is better, CAML or SPY?

Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.6%.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPYLess Concentrated: SPY

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

MetricCAMLSPY
Expense Ratio0.65%0.09%Best
AUM$381M$804.7B
Dividend Yield0.00%0.98%
Holdings39505
YTD Return+4.36%+12.47%Best
1Y Return+3.77%+17.51%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+15.82%+21.18%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.88%
Volatility (annualized)14.8%12.8%Best
Max Drawdown-21.1%-18.8%Best
$10,000 over 3.1 years$16,081$18,266Best
Top 10 Weight45.6%38.0%Best
Fund FamilyCongress Asset Management CompanyState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionAug 22, 2023Jan 22, 1993

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 22, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (3.1 years).

CAML 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 3.1 years both funds cover.

CAML vs SPY Performance

Congress Large Cap Growth ETF (CAML) is an ETF from Congress Asset Management Company and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CAML returned +3.77% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, CAML is up 4.36% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.

Over three years, CAML compounded at +15.82% per year against +21.18% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

CAML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 12.8% 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 -21.1% for CAML and -18.8% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CAML 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, CAML currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

CAML already in SPY89.6%
SPY already in CAML43.0%

89.6% of CAML's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 43.0% of SPY's money is in holdings CAML also owns.

Most of CAML is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

33 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in CAML and 504 in SPY, against full books of 39 and 505.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 461 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CAML (56.5% of the fund), and 2 for CAML that do not appear in SPY (4.1%).

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

StockWeight in CAMLWeight in SPYDifference
NVDANvidia Corp.8.08%7.71%0.37%
AAPLApple, Inc5.96%6.83%0.87%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 375.98%5.50%0.48%
GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.0015.51%3.33%2.18%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.56%2.97%1.59%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc2.47%4.08%1.61%
METAMeta Platforms, Inc.2.45%1.94%0.51%
VVisa Inc2.71%0.92%1.79%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.2.11%1.51%0.60%
ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock3.27%0.30%2.97%

89.6% of CAML 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.

CAMLSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CAML or SPY?

CAML 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, CAML or SPY?

Over the past year CAML returned +3.77% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CAML or SPY?

CAML has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 12.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CAML -21.1% vs SPY -18.8%.

Should I hold both CAML and SPY?

CAML and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between CAML and SPY?

89.6% of CAML's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 43.0% of SPY's is in holdings CAML also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in CAML and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, CAML or SPY?

CAML yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than CAML?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.