FFGX vs SPY
Fidelity Fundamental Global ex-US ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FFGX or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FFGX led over 1Y and the full window. FFGX is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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 | FFGX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $54M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.54% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 177 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.38%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +21.88%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.8%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $14,226Best | $13,272 |
| Top 10 Weight | 25.6%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 4, 2026 (1.8 years).
FFGX 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.
FFGX vs SPY Performance
Fidelity Fundamental Global ex-US ETF (FFGX) 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 FFGX returned +21.88% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, FFGX is up 13.38% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FFGX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 12.6% 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 -14.8% for FFGX 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FFGX 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, FFGX currently yields 1.54% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 172 holdings in FFGX and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.1% 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 172 positions we hold weights for in FFGX and 504 in SPY, against full books of 177 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FFGX (99.5% of the fund), and 7 for FFGX that do not appear in SPY (2.9%).
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 FFGX 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, FFGX or SPY?
FFGX 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, FFGX or SPY?
Over the past year FFGX returned +21.88% vs +19.97% for SPY, so FFGX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FFGX annualized +21.63% vs +17.03% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FFGX or SPY?
FFGX has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 12.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FFGX -14.8% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both FFGX and SPY?
FFGX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, FFGX or SPY?
FFGX yields 1.54% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FFGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FFGX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FFGX led over 1Y and the full window. FFGX is less concentrated, with 25.6% 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.