FRTY vs SPY
Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FRTY or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FRTY led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%.
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 | FRTY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $145M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.18% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 41 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.72% | +12.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.43% | +16.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.84%Best | +21.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.11% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.8% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.1% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,055 | $18,424Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.6% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Alger | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 1, 2021 to Sep 17, 2026 (5.5 years).
FRTY 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 5.5 years both funds cover.
FRTY vs SPY Performance
Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (FRTY) is an ETF from Alger and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FRTY returned +4.43% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, FRTY is up 5.72% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, FRTY compounded at +21.84% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.11% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.39% annualized vs +2.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FRTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.8% compared with 15.3% 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 -53.1% for FRTY and -24.5% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FRTY charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FRTY currently yields 0.18% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
24.4% of FRTY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings FRTY also owns.
FRTY and SPY share little of their money.
13 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in FRTY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 41 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 484 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FRTY (97.9% of the fund), and 23 for FRTY that do not appear in SPY (69.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FRTY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 3.01% | 0.08% | 2.93% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 2.74% | 0.09% | 2.65% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 2.68% | 0.05% | 2.63% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 2.44% | 0.06% | 2.38% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 2.32% | 0.12% | 2.20% |
| SNPSSynopsys | 2.31% | 0.12% | 2.19% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 1.84% | 0.11% | 1.73% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 1.80% | 0.06% | 1.74% |
| WSTWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc | 1.76% | 0.04% | 1.72% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp Company Guar 11/28 3 | 1.31% | 0.24% | 1.07% |
24.4% of FRTY 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, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FRTY or SPY?
Over the past year FRTY returned +4.43% vs +16.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), FRTY annualized +2.75% vs +14.39% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY has been the more volatile fund at 22.8% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FRTY -53.1% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both FRTY and SPY?
FRTY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 FRTY and SPY?
24.4% of FRTY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings FRTY also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in FRTY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY yields 0.18% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FRTY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FRTY led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.