FSML vs SPY
Franklin Small Cap Enhanced ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FSML or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FSML is less concentrated, with 13.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | FSML | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $150M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.40% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 306 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.23%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | - | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.1%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
FSML 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FSML vs SPY Performance
Franklin Small Cap Enhanced ETF (FSML) 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. Year to date, FSML is up 22.23% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FSML charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FSML currently yields 0.40% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 298 holdings in FSML and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.9% 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 298 positions we hold weights for in FSML and 503 in SPY, against full books of 306 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FSML (99.4% of the fund), and 282 for FSML that do not appear in SPY (93.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FSML 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, FSML or SPY?
FSML has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, FSML or SPY?
FSML yields 0.40% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FSML?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FSML is less concentrated, with 13.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.