CARZ vs SPY
First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CARZ or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CARZ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%.
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 | CARZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 104 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +36.71%Best | +13.51% |
| 1Y Return | +53.86%Best | +18.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.17%Best | +23.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.99%Best | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.2% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,105Best | $18,596 |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 9, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2011 to Sep 25, 2026 (15.4 years).
CARZ 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
CARZ vs SPY Performance
First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF (CARZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CARZ returned +53.86% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, CARZ is up 36.71% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Over three years, CARZ compounded at +31.17% per year against +23.29% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.99% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.49% annualized vs +10.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CARZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.2% compared with 14.3% 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 -51.2% for CARZ 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CARZ 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, CARZ currently yields 1.29% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
49.9% of CARZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 30.8% of SPY's money is in holdings CARZ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
22 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in CARZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 104 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 475 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CARZ (68.6% of the fund), and 26 for CARZ that do not appear in SPY (11.7%).
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 CARZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.05% | 8.01% | 2.96% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.65% | 7.26% | 2.61% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.12% | 5.66% | 0.46% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.38% | 2.99% | 1.39% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.48% | 1.60% | 2.88% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 4.20% | 1.52% | 2.68% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.99% | 1.14% | 2.85% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 3.69% | 0.67% | 3.02% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 2.32% | 0.35% | 1.97% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 1.80% | 0.28% | 1.52% |
49.9% of CARZ 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, CARZ or SPY?
CARZ 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, CARZ or SPY?
Over the past year CARZ returned +53.86% vs +18.19% for SPY, so CARZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), CARZ annualized +10.50% vs +12.49% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CARZ or SPY?
CARZ has been the more volatile fund at 24.2% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CARZ -51.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both CARZ and SPY?
CARZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 CARZ and SPY?
49.9% of CARZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 30.8% of SPY's is in holdings CARZ also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in CARZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARZ or SPY?
CARZ yields 1.29% while SPY yields 0.98%, so CARZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CARZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CARZ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.