ECF vs SPY
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ECF or SPY?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | ECF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $220M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 99 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.13% | +12.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.36% | +16.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.04% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.37% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,802 | $18,424Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 30, 1986 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 2001 to Sep 17, 2026 (25.7 years).
ECF 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 25.7 years both funds cover.
ECF vs SPY Performance
Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, ECF is up 4.13% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, ECF compounded at +19.04% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.37% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, ECF has the edge at +8.08% annualized vs +7.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 15.1% 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 -83.1% for ECF 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECF charges 1.16% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $9 annually, a gap of $107 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECF currently yields 3.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 11.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ECF also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECF, our book for it covers 63.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and ECF share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, ECF as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
15 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 99 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.52% | 5.66% | 4.14% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.09% | 2.66% | 0.43% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 2.30% | 0.15% | 2.15% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.19% | 1.14% | 0.05% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.15% | 0.10% | 2.05% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 2.05% | 0.06% | 1.99% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 1.80% | 0.13% | 1.67% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 1.47% | 0.32% | 1.15% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 1.23% | 0.26% | 0.97% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.02% | 0.27% | 0.75% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECF 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, ECF or SPY?
ECF has an expense ratio of 1.16% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $107 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECF or SPY?
Over the past year ECF returned +5.36% vs +16.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), ECF annualized +8.08% vs +7.47% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECF or SPY?
ECF has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ECF -83.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ECF and SPY?
ECF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 ECF and SPY?
At least 11.5% of SPY's money is in holdings ECF also owns. Our book for ECF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in ECF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECF or SPY?
ECF yields 3.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ECF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ECF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ECF led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.