EFFE vs SPY
Harbor Osmosis Emerging Markets Resource Efficient ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EFFE or SPY?
EFFE has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFFE led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | EFFE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $148M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.13% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 99 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +24.53%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +30.97%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.3%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $15,372Best | $13,391 |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 17, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 19, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.7 years).
EFFE 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
EFFE vs SPY Performance
Harbor Osmosis Emerging Markets Resource Efficient ETF (EFFE) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EFFE returned +30.97% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EFFE is up 24.53% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EFFE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 12.6% 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 -16.3% for EFFE and -18.8% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFFE charges 0.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $9 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFFE currently yields 4.13% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 92 holdings in EFFE and 504 in SPY, totalling 110.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 92 positions we hold weights for in EFFE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 99 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EFFE 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, EFFE or SPY?
EFFE has an expense ratio of 0.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFFE or SPY?
Over the past year EFFE returned +30.97% vs +19.97% for SPY, so EFFE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), EFFE annualized +28.78% vs +18.74% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFFE or SPY?
EFFE has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 12.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EFFE -16.3% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both EFFE and SPY?
EFFE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, EFFE or SPY?
EFFE yields 4.13% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EFFE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EFFE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFFE led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.