FTXO vs SPY
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTXO or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXO led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.0%.
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 | FTXO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $293M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.75% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 102 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.70% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.21%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +28.56%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.93% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.0% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,337 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.0% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2016 to Sep 10, 2026 (9.9 years).
FTXO 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
FTXO vs SPY Performance
First Trust Nasdaq Bank ETF (FTXO) 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 FTXO returned +20.21% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, FTXO is up 10.70% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, FTXO compounded at +28.56% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.93% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.38% annualized vs +8.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTXO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.0% 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 -57.8% for FTXO 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTXO 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, FTXO currently yields 1.75% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
68.1% of FTXO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's money is in holdings FTXO also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
13 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in FTXO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 102 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTXO (96.0% of the fund), and 34 for FTXO that do not appear in SPY (30.0%).
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 FTXO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 8.49% | 1.44% | 7.05% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 8.90% | 0.62% | 8.28% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 8.55% | 0.35% | 8.20% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 7.59% | 0.41% | 7.18% |
| TFCTruist Financial Corp. | 7.20% | 0.10% | 7.10% |
| PNCPnc Financial Services Group Inc. | 4.04% | 0.15% | 3.89% |
| USBUS Bancorp | 4.03% | 0.15% | 3.88% |
| CFGCitizens Financial Group Inc. | 3.94% | 0.05% | 3.89% |
| MTBM&t Bank Corp. | 3.86% | 0.06% | 3.80% |
| FITBFifth Third Bancorp | 3.08% | 0.08% | 3.00% |
68.1% of FTXO 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, FTXO or SPY?
FTXO 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, FTXO or SPY?
Over the past year FTXO returned +20.21% vs +17.48% for SPY, so FTXO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FTXO annualized +8.93% vs +14.38% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTXO or SPY?
FTXO has been the more volatile fund at 27.0% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTXO -57.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FTXO and SPY?
FTXO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 FTXO and SPY?
68.1% of FTXO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's is in holdings FTXO also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in FTXO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTXO or SPY?
FTXO yields 1.75% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FTXO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTXO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXO led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.