EMOP vs SPY
AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EMOP or SPY?
EMOP has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EMOP led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%.
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 | EMOP | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.15% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 73 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.18%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +33.10%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.1% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $14,850Best | $12,684 |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 18, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 16, 2026 (1.2 years).
EMOP 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
EMOP vs SPY Performance
AB Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF (EMOP) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EMOP returned +33.10% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, EMOP is up 22.18% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMOP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 12.2% 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 -13.1% for EMOP and -8.9% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMOP charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMOP currently yields 2.15% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
2.1% of EMOP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings EMOP also owns.
EMOP and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in EMOP and 504 in SPY, against full books of 73 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EMOP (99.2% of the fund), and 4 for EMOP that do not appear in SPY (7.3%).
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 EMOP | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLColgate-Palmolive Co | 2.15% | 0.11% | 2.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMOP 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, EMOP or SPY?
EMOP has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMOP or SPY?
Over the past year EMOP returned +33.10% vs +15.52% for SPY, so EMOP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EMOP annualized +39.03% vs +21.91% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMOP or SPY?
EMOP has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 12.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EMOP -13.1% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both EMOP and SPY?
EMOP and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 EMOP and SPY?
2.1% of EMOP's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings EMOP also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in EMOP and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMOP or SPY?
EMOP yields 2.15% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EMOP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EMOP?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EMOP led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.