FLTB vs SPY
Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FLTB or SPY?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | FLTB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $433M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,056 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +0.51% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.65% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.39% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.17% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 128.1% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.5% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,133 | $18,728Best |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 6, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2003 to Sep 18, 2026 (22.9 years).
FLTB 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 22.9 years both funds cover.
FLTB vs SPY Performance
Fidelity Limited Term Bond ETF (FLTB) 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 FLTB returned +1.65% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, FLTB is up 0.51% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, FLTB compounded at +5.39% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.17% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.46% annualized vs +7.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FLTB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 128.1% compared with 14.6% 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 -73.5% for FLTB and -56.5% 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 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLTB charges 0.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $9 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLTB currently yields 4.79% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings FLTB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FLTB, our book for it covers 67.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 685 positions we hold weights for in FLTB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,056 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FLTB 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, FLTB or SPY?
FLTB has an expense ratio of 0.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLTB or SPY?
Over the past year FLTB returned +1.65% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), FLTB annualized +7.67% vs +9.46% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLTB or SPY?
FLTB has been the more volatile fund at 128.1% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FLTB -73.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both FLTB and SPY?
FLTB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, 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, FLTB or SPY?
FLTB yields 4.79% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FLTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FLTB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.