FTC vs SPY
First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTC or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTC led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. FTC is less concentrated, with 10.0% 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 | FTC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.15% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 376 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.01% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.43% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.78%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.12% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.5%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,471 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | 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 23, 2026 (19.4 years).
FTC 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 19.4 years both funds cover.
FTC vs SPY Performance
First Trust Large Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FTC) 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 FTC returned +10.43% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, FTC is up 10.01% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, FTC compounded at +22.78% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.12% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, FTC has the edge at +9.77% annualized vs +9.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% 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 -54.5% for FTC 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTC 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, FTC currently yields 0.15% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
73.1% of FTC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 55.7% of SPY's money is in holdings FTC also owns.
Most of FTC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
140 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in FTC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 376 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 357 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTC (43.7% of the fund), and 41 for FTC that do not appear in SPY (23.7%).
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 FTC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.62% | 8.01% | 7.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.62% | 7.26% | 6.64% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.62% | 3.79% | 3.17% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.73% | 2.99% | 2.26% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.55% | 2.66% | 2.11% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.80% | 1.60% | 0.80% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.75% | 1.40% | 0.65% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.19% | 1.93% | 1.74% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.78% | 1.14% | 0.36% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.42% | 1.45% | 1.03% |
73.1% of FTC 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, FTC or SPY?
FTC 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, FTC or SPY?
Over the past year FTC returned +10.43% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FTC annualized +9.77% vs +9.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTC or SPY?
FTC has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTC -54.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both FTC and SPY?
FTC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FTC and SPY?
73.1% of FTC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 55.7% of SPY's is in holdings FTC also owns. They hold 140 positions in common, counted across the 187 positions we hold weights for in FTC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTC or SPY?
FTC yields 0.15% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTC led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. FTC is less concentrated, with 10.0% 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.