FTRI vs SPY
First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTRI or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTRI led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.8%.
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 | FTRI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $130M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.89% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 122 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.99%Best | +12.19% |
| 1Y Return | +26.16%Best | +18.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.22% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.43% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.1% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,180 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 11, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 12, 2010 to Sep 9, 2026 (16.5 years).
FTRI 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 16.5 years both funds cover.
FTRI vs SPY Performance
First Trust Indxx Global Natural Resources Income ETF (FTRI) 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 FTRI returned +26.16% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, FTRI is up 17.99% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, FTRI compounded at +16.22% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.43% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.63% annualized vs -1.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.1% compared with 14.4% 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 -84.4% for FTRI and -34.1% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTRI charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTRI currently yields 1.89% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
11.9% of FTRI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings FTRI also owns.
FTRI and SPY share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in FTRI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 122 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 489 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTRI (99.4% of the fund), and 12 for FTRI that do not appear in SPY (16.3%).
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 FTRI 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, FTRI or SPY?
FTRI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTRI or SPY?
Over the past year FTRI returned +26.16% vs +18.53% for SPY, so FTRI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), FTRI annualized -1.28% vs +12.63% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTRI or SPY?
FTRI has been the more volatile fund at 27.1% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTRI -84.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FTRI and SPY?
FTRI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 FTRI and SPY?
11.9% of FTRI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings FTRI also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in FTRI and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTRI or SPY?
FTRI yields 1.89% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FTRI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTRI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTRI led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.