FNDA vs SPY
Schwab Fundamental US Small Company ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FNDA 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. FNDA is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | FNDA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $9.0B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 918 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.81% | +12.89%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.80% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.85% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.31% | +13.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,230 | $18,433Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.9%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 15, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2013 to Sep 24, 2026 (13.1 years).
FNDA 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 13.1 years both funds cover.
FNDA vs SPY Performance
Schwab Fundamental US Small Company ETF (FNDA) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FNDA returned +14.80% while SPY returned +17.01%. Year to date, FNDA is up 11.81% versus a gain of 12.89% for SPY.
Over three years, FNDA compounded at +14.85% per year against +22.46% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.31% and +13.01% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.00% annualized vs +9.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FNDA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 14.4% 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 -45.9% for FNDA 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FNDA 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, FNDA currently yields 1.12% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
6.7% of FNDA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's money is in holdings FNDA also owns.
FNDA and SPY share little of their money.
42 positions in common, counted across the 913 positions we hold weights for in FNDA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 918 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 455 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FNDA (96.1% of the fund), and 846 for FNDA that do not appear in SPY (91.5%).
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 FNDA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 0.12% | 0.63% | 0.51% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.55% | 0.10% | 0.45% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 0.15% | 0.33% | 0.18% |
| DASHDoordash Inc - A | 0.30% | 0.13% | 0.17% |
| COHRCoherent Corp | 0.32% | 0.08% | 0.24% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 0.27% | 0.08% | 0.19% |
| VEEVVeeva Systems Inc | 0.28% | 0.06% | 0.22% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.29% | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| FDSFactset Research Systems Inc. | 0.31% | 0.02% | 0.29% |
| BABoeing Co | 0.06% | 0.25% | 0.19% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FNDA 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, FNDA or SPY?
FNDA 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, FNDA or SPY?
Over the past year FNDA returned +14.80% vs +17.01% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FNDA annualized +9.03% vs +13.00% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FNDA or SPY?
FNDA has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FNDA -45.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FNDA and SPY?
FNDA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 FNDA and SPY?
6.7% of FNDA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's is in holdings FNDA also owns. They hold 42 positions in common, counted across the 913 positions we hold weights for in FNDA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FNDA or SPY?
FNDA yields 1.12% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FNDA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FNDA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FNDA is less concentrated, with 3.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.