EFAX vs SPY
State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EFAX or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFAX led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAX is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | EFAX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $515M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.12% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 658 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.53% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.99%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.52% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.07% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,741 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 24, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.9 years).
EFAX 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
EFAX vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI EAFE Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EFAX) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EFAX returned +19.99% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EFAX is up 11.53% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, EFAX compounded at +18.52% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.07% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.72% annualized vs +8.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 15.2% for EFAX. 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 -36.2% for EFAX 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFAX charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFAX currently yields 3.12% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of EFAX's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings EFAX 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 631 positions we hold weights for in EFAX and 504 in SPY, against full books of 658 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EFAX (99.2% of the fund), and 16 for EFAX that do not appear in SPY (3.2%).
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 EFAX 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, EFAX or SPY?
EFAX has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFAX or SPY?
Over the past year EFAX returned +19.99% vs +19.97% for SPY, so EFAX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), EFAX annualized +8.11% vs +14.72% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFAX or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 15.2% for EFAX. Worst drawdown: EFAX -36.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EFAX and SPY?
EFAX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, EFAX or SPY?
EFAX yields 3.12% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EFAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EFAX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFAX led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAX is less concentrated, with 14.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.