FSLD vs SPY
Fidelity Sustainable Low Duration Bond ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FSLD or SPY?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.6%.
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 | FSLD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.40% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 227 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 0.8%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.6%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $11,532 | $16,195Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 19, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 302 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. FSLD has data through Nov 13, 2025 and SPY through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 21, 2022 to Nov 13, 2025 (3.6 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 0.8% for FSLD. 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 -0.6% for FSLD and -18.8% 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 0.27. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FSLD charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FSLD currently yields 4.40% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 231 holdings in FSLD and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 338 days apart, FSLD as of Aug 31, 2025 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 231 positions we hold weights for in FSLD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 227 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FSLD (99.5% of the fund), and 230 for FSLD that do not appear in SPY (99.8%).
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 FSLD 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, FSLD or SPY?
FSLD has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, FSLD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 0.8% for FSLD. Worst drawdown: FSLD -0.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both FSLD and SPY?
FSLD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.27, 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, FSLD or SPY?
FSLD yields 4.40% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FSLD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FSLD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.