FTA vs SPY
First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTA or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTA is less concentrated, with 10.4% 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 | FTA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 376 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.45%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +26.29%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.88% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.42% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,172 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 8, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 11, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.3 years).
FTA 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
FTA vs SPY Performance
First Trust Large Cap Value AlphaDEX Fund (FTA) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FTA returned +26.29% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, FTA is up 19.45% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, FTA compounded at +17.88% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.42% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.22% annualized vs +7.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 15.5% 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 -63.8% for FTA 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTA charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTA currently yields 1.61% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
92.9% of FTA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 18.4% of SPY's money is in holdings FTA also owns.
Most of FTA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
175 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in FTA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 376 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 323 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTA (81.3% of the fund), and 10 for FTA that do not appear in SPY (5.9%).
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 FTA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 0.88% | 1.42% | 0.54% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.76% | 0.96% | 0.20% |
| ACN:IEAccenture PLC Cl A | 1.17% | 0.16% | 1.01% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.77% | 0.54% | 0.23% |
| CTSHCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A | 1.23% | 0.04% | 1.19% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.94% | 0.29% | 0.65% |
| PYPLPaypay Holdings, Inc. | 1.14% | 0.08% | 1.06% |
| TAT&T Inc | 0.95% | 0.24% | 0.71% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 0.55% | 0.62% | 0.07% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 0.90% | 0.26% | 0.64% |
92.9% of FTA 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, FTA or SPY?
FTA has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTA or SPY?
Over the past year FTA returned +26.29% vs +19.97% for SPY, so FTA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FTA annualized +7.19% vs +9.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTA or SPY?
FTA has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTA -63.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both FTA and SPY?
FTA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 FTA and SPY?
92.9% of FTA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 18.4% of SPY's is in holdings FTA also owns. They hold 175 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in FTA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTA or SPY?
FTA yields 1.61% while SPY yields 1.01%, so FTA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. FTA is less concentrated, with 10.4% 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.