FGSI vs SPY
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FGSI or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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 | FGSI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.14% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 104 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.41% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.53% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.5%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -8.6%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $11,020 | $12,505Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 25, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.2 years).
FGSI 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
FGSI vs SPY Performance
FT Vest Growth Strength & Target Income ETF (FGSI) 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 FGSI returned +4.53% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, FGSI is up 6.41% versus a gain of 11.52% 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 12.0% compared with 9.5% for FGSI. 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 -8.6% for FGSI and -8.9% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FGSI charges 0.85% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $9 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FGSI currently yields 8.14% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.9% of FGSI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.0% of SPY's money is in holdings FGSI also owns.
Most of FGSI is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
48 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 104 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 446 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FGSI (72.5% of the fund), and 2 for FGSI that do not appear in SPY (3.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FGSI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.07% | 7.71% | 5.64% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.44% | 5.50% | 3.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.90% | 2.97% | 1.07% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.69% | 1.94% | 0.25% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.67% | 0.56% | 2.11% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.87% | 1.33% | 0.54% |
| NEMNewmont Corp. | 2.67% | 0.16% | 2.51% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.05% | 0.69% | 1.36% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 2.23% | 0.47% | 1.76% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 1.89% | 0.63% | 1.26% |
95.9% of FGSI 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, FGSI or SPY?
FGSI has an expense ratio of 0.85% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FGSI or SPY?
Over the past year FGSI returned +4.53% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), FGSI annualized +8.43% vs +20.48% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGSI or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 9.5% for FGSI. Worst drawdown: FGSI -8.6% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both FGSI and SPY?
FGSI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 FGSI and SPY?
95.9% of FGSI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 27.0% of SPY's is in holdings FGSI also owns. They hold 48 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in FGSI and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FGSI or SPY?
FGSI yields 8.14% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FGSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FGSI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. FGSI is less concentrated, with 23.7% 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.