DSTL vs SPY
Distillate US Fundamental Stability & Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DSTL or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DSTL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DSTL is less concentrated, with 20.1% 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 | DSTL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 101 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.60%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +18.41%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.18% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.1%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,988 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Distillate Capital Etfs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 23, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 24, 2018 to Sep 16, 2026 (7.9 years).
DSTL 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
DSTL vs SPY Performance
Distillate US Fundamental Stability & Value ETF (DSTL) is an ETF from Distillate Capital Etfs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DSTL returned +18.41% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, DSTL is up 14.60% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, DSTL compounded at +15.24% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.18% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.22% annualized vs +14.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DSTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 16.7% 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 -33.1% for DSTL 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DSTL charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DSTL currently yields 1.06% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
76.8% of DSTL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.4% of SPY's money is in holdings DSTL also owns.
Most of DSTL is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
71 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in DSTL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 101 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 426 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DSTL (91.9% of the fund), and 27 for DSTL that do not appear in SPY (22.3%).
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 DSTL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | 3.21% | 0.32% | 2.89% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.64% | 0.56% | 2.08% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.82% | 0.70% | 1.12% |
| CMCSAComcast Corp-class A Cmcsa | 1.98% | 0.14% | 1.84% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 1.89% | 0.17% | 1.72% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 1.62% | 0.23% | 1.39% |
| ADBEAdobe Systems | 1.64% | 0.18% | 1.46% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 1.49% | 0.23% | 1.26% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 1.11% | 0.55% | 0.56% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 1.44% | 0.17% | 1.27% |
76.8% of DSTL is already inside SPY.
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, DSTL or SPY?
DSTL has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DSTL or SPY?
Over the past year DSTL returned +18.41% vs +15.52% for SPY, so DSTL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DSTL annualized +14.70% vs +15.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DSTL or SPY?
DSTL has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DSTL -33.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DSTL and SPY?
DSTL 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 DSTL and SPY?
76.8% of DSTL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.4% of SPY's is in holdings DSTL also owns. They hold 71 positions in common, counted across the 100 positions we hold weights for in DSTL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DSTL or SPY?
DSTL yields 1.06% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DSTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DSTL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DSTL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DSTL is less concentrated, with 20.1% 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.