EPSB vs SPY
Harbor SMID Cap Core ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EPSB or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EPSB led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. EPSB is less concentrated, with 26.0% 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 | EPSB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.15% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 59 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.22%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +18.96%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.5%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,309 | $13,879Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.4 years).
EPSB 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
EPSB vs SPY Performance
Harbor SMID Cap Core ETF (EPSB) 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 EPSB returned +18.96% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, EPSB is up 15.22% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPSB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 11.8% 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 -8.5% for EPSB 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPSB charges 0.88% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $9 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPSB currently yields 1.15% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
35.3% of EPSB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.9% of SPY's money is in holdings EPSB also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
22 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in EPSB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 59 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EPSB (98.4% of the fund), and 35 for EPSB that do not appear in SPY (61.7%).
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 EPSB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 2.80% | 0.02% | 2.78% |
| TDYTeledyne Technologies Inc | 2.40% | 0.04% | 2.36% |
| RJFRaymond James Financial Inc. | 2.30% | 0.05% | 2.25% |
| CBRECbre Services Inc | 2.20% | 0.06% | 2.14% |
| SNASnap-On Inc. | 2.20% | 0.03% | 2.17% |
| CFCf Industries Holdings Inc. | 2.10% | 0.03% | 2.07% |
| HIIHuntington Ingalls Industries Inc. | 1.90% | 0.02% | 1.88% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 1.80% | 0.09% | 1.71% |
| DRIDarden Restaurants Inc. | 1.80% | 0.04% | 1.76% |
| RSGRepublic Services Inc. Class A | 1.50% | 0.07% | 1.43% |
35.3% of EPSB is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EPSB or SPY?
EPSB has an expense ratio of 0.88% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPSB or SPY?
Over the past year EPSB returned +18.96% vs +16.96% for SPY, so EPSB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPSB annualized +22.65% vs +26.38% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPSB or SPY?
EPSB has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 11.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EPSB -8.5% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both EPSB and SPY?
EPSB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 EPSB and SPY?
35.3% of EPSB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.9% of SPY's is in holdings EPSB also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in EPSB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, EPSB or SPY?
EPSB yields 1.15% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EPSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EPSB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EPSB led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. EPSB is less concentrated, with 26.0% 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.