FLSA vs SPY
Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FLSA or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%.
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 | FLSA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.15% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 68 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.13% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.19% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +1.35% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.69% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,874 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.3% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 9, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.9 years).
FLSA 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
FLSA vs SPY Performance
Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA) 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 FLSA returned +7.19% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, FLSA is up 7.13% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, FLSA compounded at +1.35% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.69% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.15% annualized vs +6.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLSA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 16.7% 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 -40.2% for FLSA 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLSA charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLSA currently yields 3.15% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 64 holdings in FLSA and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.1% 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 64 positions we hold weights for in FLSA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 68 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FLSA (99.5% of the fund), and 1 for FLSA that do not appear in SPY (0.4%).
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 FLSA 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, FLSA or SPY?
FLSA has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLSA or SPY?
Over the past year FLSA returned +7.19% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), FLSA annualized +6.41% vs +15.15% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLSA or SPY?
FLSA has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FLSA -40.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FLSA and SPY?
FLSA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, FLSA or SPY?
FLSA yields 3.15% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FLSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FLSA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.