FLQS vs SPY
Franklin US Small Cap Multifactor Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FLQS or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FLQS is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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 | FLQS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.33% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 499 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.43%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +10.84% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.91% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.11% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 15.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,452 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 26, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 28, 2017 to Sep 8, 2026 (9.4 years).
FLQS 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 9.4 years both funds cover.
FLQS vs SPY Performance
Franklin US Small Cap Multifactor Index ETF (FLQS) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FLQS returned +10.84% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, FLQS is up 13.43% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, FLQS compounded at +12.91% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.11% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.19% annualized vs +8.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLQS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 15.8% 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 -42.2% for FLQS and -34.1% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLQS charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLQS currently yields 1.33% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 491 holdings in FLQS and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.3% 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 491 positions we hold weights for in FLQS and 503 in SPY, against full books of 499 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FLQS (99.4% of the fund), and 470 for FLQS that do not appear in SPY (95.0%).
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 FLQS 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, FLQS or SPY?
FLQS has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLQS or SPY?
Over the past year FLQS returned +10.84% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), FLQS annualized +8.58% vs +14.19% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLQS or SPY?
FLQS has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FLQS -42.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FLQS and SPY?
FLQS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, FLQS or SPY?
FLQS yields 1.33% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FLQS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FLQS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FLQS is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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.