FFDI vs SPY
Fidelity Fundamental Developed International ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FFDI or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FFDI led over the full window, SPY over 1Y. FFDI is less concentrated, with 25.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | FFDI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $19M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 101 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.74% | +13.78%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.77% | +21.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.4%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $13,391Best | $13,329 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.5%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 19, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 21, 2024 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.8 years).
FFDI 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
FFDI vs SPY Performance
Fidelity Fundamental Developed International ETF (FFDI) is an ETF from Fidelity Investments (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FFDI returned +12.77% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, FFDI is up 7.74% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 12.1% for FFDI. 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 -14.4% for FFDI and -18.8% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFDI 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, FFDI currently yields 2.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 98 holdings in FFDI and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.5% and 100.0% 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 98 positions we hold weights for in FFDI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 101 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FFDI (99.5% of the fund), and 4 for FFDI that do not appear in SPY (3.0%).
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 FFDI 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, FFDI or SPY?
FFDI 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 performed better, FFDI or SPY?
Over the past year FFDI returned +12.77% vs +21.44% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FFDI annualized +17.61% vs +17.31% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFDI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 12.1% for FFDI. Worst drawdown: FFDI -14.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both FFDI and SPY?
FFDI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FFDI or SPY?
FFDI yields 2.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FFDI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FFDI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FFDI led over the full window, SPY over 1Y. FFDI is less concentrated, with 25.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.