FESC vs SPY
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FESC or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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 | FESC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -7.11% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +18.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.2%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Eagle Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 30, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
FESC 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FESC vs SPY Performance
First Eagle Small Cap Equity ETF (FESC) is an ETF from First Eagle Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, FESC is down 7.11% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FESC charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FESC currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 184 holdings in FESC and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% 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 184 positions we hold weights for in FESC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FESC (99.3% of the fund), and 177 for FESC that do not appear in SPY (96.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FESC 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, FESC or SPY?
FESC has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, FESC or SPY?
FESC yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FESC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FESC is less concentrated, with 11.2% 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.