FAUG vs SPY
FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - August vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FAUG or SPY?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98.
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 | FAUG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 10 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.66% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.71% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.12% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.88% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 16.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,302 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 7, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 7, 2019 to Sep 16, 2026 (6.9 years).
FAUG 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
FAUG vs SPY Performance
FT Vest US Equity Buffer ETF - August (FAUG) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FAUG returned +10.71% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, FAUG is up 7.66% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, FAUG compounded at +14.12% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.88% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.17% annualized vs +9.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 10.7% for FAUG. 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 -22.3% for FAUG 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FAUG charges 0.85% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $9 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FAUG currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FAUG 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, FAUG or SPY?
FAUG has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FAUG or SPY?
Over the past year FAUG returned +10.71% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), FAUG annualized +9.74% vs +15.17% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FAUG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 10.7% for FAUG. Worst drawdown: FAUG -22.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FAUG and SPY?
FAUG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FAUG or SPY?
FAUG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FAUG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.