FCG vs SPY
First Trust Natural Gas ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FCG or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FCG led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%.
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 | FCG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $667M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.17% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 86 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +33.25%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +35.07%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.13% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +20.28%Best | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 40.8% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -97.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $25,175Best | $18,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.7% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 11, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.3 years).
FCG 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
FCG vs SPY Performance
First Trust Natural Gas ETF (FCG) 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 FCG returned +35.07% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, FCG is up 33.25% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, FCG compounded at +8.13% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +20.28% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.22% annualized vs -5.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FCG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.8% compared with 15.5% 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 -97.6% for FCG and -56.5% 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
FCG charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FCG currently yields 2.17% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
32.1% of FCG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings FCG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in FCG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 86 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 488 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FCG (98.8% of the fund), and 31 for FCG that do not appear in SPY (62.0%).
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 FCG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 4.62% | 0.22% | 4.40% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 4.49% | 0.11% | 4.38% |
| OXYOccidental Petroleum Corp. | 4.13% | 0.06% | 4.07% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy, Inc. | 4.11% | 0.06% | 4.05% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corporation | 3.90% | 0.08% | 3.82% |
| EXEExpand Energy Corp | 3.80% | 0.03% | 3.77% |
| EQTEQT Corp. | 3.73% | 0.05% | 3.68% |
| APAApa Corp | 3.37% | 0.02% | 3.35% |
32.1% of FCG 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, FCG or SPY?
FCG has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FCG or SPY?
Over the past year FCG returned +35.07% vs +19.97% for SPY, so FCG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FCG annualized -5.02% vs +9.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FCG or SPY?
FCG has been the more volatile fund at 40.8% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FCG -97.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both FCG and SPY?
FCG 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 FCG and SPY?
32.1% of FCG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.6% of SPY's is in holdings FCG also owns. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in FCG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FCG or SPY?
FCG yields 2.17% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FCG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FCG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FCG led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.