DALI vs SPY
First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DALI or SPY?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 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 | DALI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $102M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 16 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.95% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.43% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.29% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.87% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 16.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,091 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 14, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8.3 years).
DALI 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 8.3 years both funds cover.
DALI vs SPY Performance
First Trust Dorsey Wright DALI Equity ETF (DALI) 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 DALI returned +8.43% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DALI is up 2.95% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DALI compounded at +5.29% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.87% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.41% annualized vs +5.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DALI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 16.5% 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 -36.1% for DALI 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
DALI charges 0.91% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $9 annually, a gap of $82 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DALI currently yields 1.21% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in DALI and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 7 positions we hold weights for in DALI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 16 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DALI (99.5% of the fund), and 7 for DALI that do not appear in SPY (99.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DALI and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DALI or SPY?
DALI has an expense ratio of 0.91% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $82 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DALI or SPY?
Over the past year DALI returned +8.43% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DALI annualized +5.62% vs +14.41% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DALI or SPY?
DALI has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 16.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DALI -36.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DALI and SPY?
DALI 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DALI or SPY?
DALI yields 1.21% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DALI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DALI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.