CSQ vs SPY
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CSQ or SPY?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | CSQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.03% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.64% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 816 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.15%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +21.19%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.06% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.50% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,474 | $18,270Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2004 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 29, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.4 years).
CSQ 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 22.4 years both funds cover.
CSQ vs SPY Performance
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CSQ returned +21.19% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, CSQ is up 15.15% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, CSQ compounded at +21.06% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.50% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.31% annualized vs +3.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 14.7% 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 -72.7% for CSQ and -56.5% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSQ charges 2.03% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $203 vs $9 annually, a gap of $194 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSQ currently yields 5.64% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 67.1% of SPY's money is in holdings CSQ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CSQ, our book for it covers 93.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 185 days apart, CSQ as of Jan 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
148 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 503 in SPY, against full books of 816 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CSQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.26% | 7.71% | 2.45% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 4.77% | 6.83% | 2.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.08% | 5.50% | 1.42% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 4.49% | 3.33% | 1.16% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.31% | 4.08% | 0.77% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.12% | 2.97% | 0.85% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.18% | 1.94% | 0.24% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.68% | 1.38% | 0.30% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.24% | 1.44% | 0.20% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.31% | 1.33% | 0.02% |
67.1% of SPY is already inside CSQ.
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, CSQ or SPY?
CSQ has an expense ratio of 2.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $194 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSQ or SPY?
Over the past year CSQ returned +21.19% vs +19.97% for SPY, so CSQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), CSQ annualized +3.47% vs +9.31% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSQ or SPY?
CSQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 14.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CSQ -72.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both CSQ and SPY?
CSQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 CSQ and SPY?
At least 67.1% of SPY's money is in holdings CSQ also owns. Our book for CSQ is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 148 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSQ or SPY?
CSQ yields 5.64% while SPY yields 1.01%, so CSQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CSQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.