DIEM vs SPY
Franklin Emerging Market Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DIEM or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DIEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. DIEM is less concentrated, with 34.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | DIEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.87% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 569 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +26.56%Best | +11.97% |
| 1Y Return | +36.92%Best | +16.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.58%Best | +21.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.58% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,295 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.2%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 1, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 3, 2016 to Sep 14, 2026 (10.3 years).
DIEM 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
DIEM vs SPY Performance
Franklin Emerging Market Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF (DIEM) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DIEM returned +36.92% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, DIEM is up 26.56% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, DIEM compounded at +26.58% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.58% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.15% annualized vs +7.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DIEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -44.4% for DIEM 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DIEM charges 0.19% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $9 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DIEM currently yields 2.87% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of DIEM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings DIEM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 513 positions we hold weights for in DIEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 569 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DIEM (98.7% of the fund), and 6 for DIEM that do not appear in SPY (1.0%).
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 DIEM 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, DIEM or SPY?
DIEM has an expense ratio of 0.19% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DIEM or SPY?
Over the past year DIEM returned +36.92% vs +16.40% for SPY, so DIEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), DIEM annualized +7.35% vs +14.15% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DIEM or SPY?
DIEM has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DIEM -44.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DIEM and SPY?
DIEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, DIEM or SPY?
DIEM yields 2.87% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DIEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DIEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DIEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. DIEM is less concentrated, with 34.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.