FTXL vs SPY
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTXL or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.2%.
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 | FTXL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.11% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 70 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +72.47%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +124.27%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +50.87%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +27.94%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.2% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $34,279Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.2% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2016 to Sep 11, 2026 (10 years).
FTXL 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 10 years both funds cover.
FTXL vs SPY Performance
First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) 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 FTXL returned +124.27% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, FTXL is up 72.47% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, FTXL compounded at +50.87% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +27.94% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, FTXL has the edge at +28.26% annualized vs +14.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTXL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.2% compared with 15.4% 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 -43.9% for FTXL 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTXL charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FTXL currently yields 0.11% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
88.1% of FTXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.6% of SPY's money is in holdings FTXL also owns.
Most of FTXL is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
19 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in FTXL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 70 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 475 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTXL (82.0% of the fund), and 15 for FTXL that do not appear in SPY (11.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FTXL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.94% | 7.71% | 0.77% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 12.95% | 1.51% | 11.44% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 10.93% | 0.72% | 10.21% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.46% | 2.97% | 3.49% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 6.55% | 1.27% | 5.28% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 7.22% | 0.29% | 6.93% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 6.67% | 0.26% | 6.41% |
| LRCXLam Research Corpcommon Stock | 3.59% | 0.60% | 2.99% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 3.43% | 0.65% | 2.78% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 3.43% | 0.39% | 3.04% |
88.1% of FTXL 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, FTXL or SPY?
FTXL has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FTXL or SPY?
Over the past year FTXL returned +124.27% vs +17.51% for SPY, so FTXL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FTXL annualized +28.26% vs +14.37% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTXL or SPY?
FTXL has been the more volatile fund at 31.2% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTXL -43.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FTXL and SPY?
FTXL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 FTXL and SPY?
88.1% of FTXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.6% of SPY's is in holdings FTXL also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in FTXL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTXL or SPY?
FTXL yields 0.11% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTXL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXL led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.