EFFI vs SPY
Harbor Osmosis International Resource Efficient ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EFFI or SPY?
EFFI has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFFI led over 1Y and the full window. EFFI is less concentrated, with 34.1% 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 | EFFI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $153M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.96% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 84 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.12% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.55%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2%Best | 12.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.6%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,390Best | $12,925 |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
EFFI 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
EFFI vs SPY Performance
Harbor Osmosis International Resource Efficient ETF (EFFI) 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 EFFI returned +17.55% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, EFFI is up 10.12% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 11.2% for EFFI. 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 -13.6% for EFFI 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFFI charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFFI currently yields 3.96% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 74 holdings in EFFI and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.7% and 99.9% 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 74 positions we hold weights for in EFFI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 84 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EFFI (99.3% of the fund), and 2 for EFFI that do not appear in SPY (4.2%).
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 EFFI 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, EFFI or SPY?
EFFI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFFI or SPY?
Over the past year EFFI returned +17.55% vs +16.29% for SPY, so EFFI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), EFFI annualized +22.41% vs +15.32% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFFI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 11.2% for EFFI. Worst drawdown: EFFI -13.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both EFFI and SPY?
EFFI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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, EFFI or SPY?
EFFI yields 3.96% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EFFI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EFFI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EFFI led over 1Y and the full window. EFFI is less concentrated, with 34.1% 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.