FTXN vs SPY
First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTXN or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXN led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.2%.
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 | FTXN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $164M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.73% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +45.68%Best | +12.19% |
| 1Y Return | +51.28%Best | +18.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.61% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +22.94%Best | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 32.2% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $28,084Best | $18,173 |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.2% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 23, 2016 to Sep 9, 2026 (10 years).
FTXN 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.
FTXN vs SPY Performance
First Trust Nasdaq Oil & Gas ETF (FTXN) 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 FTXN returned +51.28% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, FTXN is up 45.68% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, FTXN compounded at +13.61% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +22.94% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.35% annualized vs +8.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTXN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 32.2% 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 -74.4% for FTXN 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 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTXN 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, FTXN currently yields 1.73% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
78.3% of FTXN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's money is in holdings FTXN also owns.
Most of FTXN is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
21 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in FTXN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 474 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTXN (96.3% of the fund), and 20 for FTXN that do not appear in SPY (20.7%).
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 FTXN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 6.93% | 0.96% | 5.97% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 7.66% | 0.22% | 7.44% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 7.24% | 0.54% | 6.70% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 6.18% | 0.14% | 6.04% |
| OXYOccidental Petroleum Corp. | 5.37% | 0.06% | 5.31% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 5.19% | 0.11% | 5.08% |
| VLOValero Energy | 4.63% | 0.14% | 4.49% |
| FANGDiamondback Energy, Inc. | 3.78% | 0.06% | 3.72% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 3.65% | 0.12% | 3.53% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corporation | 3.42% | 0.08% | 3.34% |
78.3% of FTXN 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, FTXN or SPY?
FTXN 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, FTXN or SPY?
Over the past year FTXN returned +51.28% vs +18.53% for SPY, so FTXN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FTXN annualized +8.97% vs +14.35% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTXN or SPY?
FTXN has been the more volatile fund at 32.2% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTXN -74.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FTXN and SPY?
FTXN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, 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 FTXN and SPY?
78.3% of FTXN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's is in holdings FTXN also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in FTXN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTXN or SPY?
FTXN yields 1.73% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FTXN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTXN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXN led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.