CSMD vs SPY

CSMD vs SPY

Which is better, CSMD or SPY?

Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. CSMD is less concentrated, with 33.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPYLess Concentrated: CSMD

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

MetricCSMDSPY
Expense Ratio0.68%0.09%Best
AUM$477M$814.4B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.01%
Holdings48505
YTD Return+6.56%+13.34%Best
1Y Return+4.48%+19.97%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+10.06%+21.20%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.81%
Volatility (annualized)18.4%12.8%Best
Max Drawdown-22.5%-18.8%Best
$10,000 over 3 years$13,636$18,114Best
Top 10 Weight33.4%Best38.0%
Fund FamilyCongress Asset Management CompanyState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleMid Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionAug 22, 2023Jan 22, 1993

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 22, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3 years).

CSMD 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 years both funds cover.

CSMD vs SPY Performance

Congress SMid Growth ETF (CSMD) 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 CSMD returned +4.48% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, CSMD is up 6.56% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.

Over three years, CSMD compounded at +10.06% per year against +21.20% for SPY.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

CSMD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% 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 -22.5% for CSMD 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CSMD charges 0.68% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $9 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSMD currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

CSMD already in SPY5.0%
SPY already in CSMD0.1%

5.0% of CSMD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings CSMD also owns.

CSMD and SPY share little of their money.

3 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in CSMD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 48 and 505.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CSMD (99.4% of the fund), and 43 for CSMD that do not appear in SPY (91.7%).

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

StockWeight in CSMDWeight in SPYDifference
STE:IESteris Plc Ordinary Shares2.28%0.03%2.25%
AVYAvery Dennison Corp.1.42%0.02%1.40%
CDWCDW Corporation1.29%0.03%1.26%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of CSMD and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

CSMDSPY

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CSMD or SPY?

CSMD has an expense ratio of 0.68% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CSMD or SPY?

Over the past year CSMD returned +4.48% vs +19.97% 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, CSMD or SPY?

CSMD has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 12.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CSMD -22.5% vs SPY -18.8%.

Should I hold both CSMD and SPY?

CSMD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 CSMD and SPY?

5.0% of CSMD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings CSMD also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in CSMD and 504 in SPY.

Which pays a higher dividend, CSMD or SPY?

CSMD yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is SPY better than CSMD?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. CSMD is less concentrated, with 33.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.