DMCY vs SPY
Democracy International Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DMCY or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DMCY led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%.
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 | DMCY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.94% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 5 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.9 years | $14,521 | $18,240Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Democracy Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 209 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. DMCY has data through Feb 13, 2026 and SPY through Sep 10, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 2021 to Feb 13, 2026 (4.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 14.7% for DMCY. 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 -28.6% for DMCY and -24.5% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DMCY charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DMCY currently yields 2.94% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of DMCY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings DMCY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 308 days apart, DMCY as of Sep 30, 2025 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 198 positions we hold weights for in DMCY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 5 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DMCY (99.4% of the fund), and 22 for DMCY that do not appear in SPY (51.3%).
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 DMCY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NXPINxp Semiconductors N.V. Common Stock | 0.41% | 0.09% | 0.32% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DMCY 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, DMCY or SPY?
DMCY has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, DMCY or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.7% for DMCY. Worst drawdown: DMCY -28.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both DMCY and SPY?
DMCY 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DMCY or SPY?
DMCY yields 2.94% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DMCY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DMCY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DMCY led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.