FCEF vs SPY
First Trust Income Opportunities ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FCEF or SPY?
Debt-oriented balanced 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 0.90. FCEF is less concentrated, with 30.8% 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 | FCEF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.69% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $83M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.23% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 122 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.89% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.30% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.24% | +23.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.32% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -45.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,958 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 27, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2016 to Sep 25, 2026 (10 years).
FCEF 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 10 years both funds cover.
FCEF vs SPY Performance
First Trust Income Opportunities ETF (FCEF) 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 FCEF returned +8.30% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, FCEF is up 4.89% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Over three years, FCEF compounded at +15.24% per year against +23.29% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.32% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.51% annualized vs +5.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 14.7% for FCEF. 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 -45.1% for FCEF 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FCEF charges 3.69% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $369 vs $9 annually, a gap of $360 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FCEF currently yields 6.23% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 61 holdings in FCEF and 504 in SPY, totalling 96.4% 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 61 positions we hold weights for in FCEF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 122 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FCEF (99.3% of the fund), and 59 for FCEF that do not appear in SPY (91.5%).
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 FCEF 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, FCEF or SPY?
FCEF has an expense ratio of 3.69% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $360 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FCEF or SPY?
Over the past year FCEF returned +8.30% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FCEF annualized +5.27% vs +14.51% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FCEF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 14.7% for FCEF. Worst drawdown: FCEF -45.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FCEF and SPY?
FCEF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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, FCEF or SPY?
FCEF yields 6.23% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FCEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FCEF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. FCEF is less concentrated, with 30.8% 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.