FTXR vs SPY
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FTXR or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXR 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 59.6%.
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 | FTXR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.21% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.24%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.05% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.38% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.9% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,954 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.6% | 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 22, 2016 to Sep 10, 2026 (10 years).
FTXR 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.
FTXR vs SPY Performance
First Trust Nasdaq Transportation ETF (FTXR) 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 FTXR returned +26.24% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, FTXR is up 10.21% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, FTXR compounded at +16.05% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.38% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.21% annualized vs +8.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FTXR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% 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 -53.4% for FTXR 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FTXR 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, FTXR currently yields 1.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
65.3% of FTXR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.6% of SPY's money is in holdings FTXR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in FTXR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 477 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FTXR (96.9% of the fund), and 25 for FTXR that do not appear in SPY (25.7%).
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 FTXR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMGeneral Motors Co. | 8.38% | 0.12% | 8.26% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 6.99% | 1.38% | 5.61% |
| FFord Motor Co. | 7.56% | 0.08% | 7.48% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 6.45% | 0.12% | 6.33% |
| URIUnited Rentals Inc. | 4.72% | 0.11% | 4.61% |
| CSXCsx Corp. | 4.52% | 0.14% | 4.38% |
| DALDelta Air Lines Inc. | 4.54% | 0.09% | 4.45% |
| UALUnited Airlines Holdings Inc. | 3.88% | 0.06% | 3.82% |
| PCARPaccar Inc. | 3.76% | 0.11% | 3.65% |
| FDXFedex Corp. | 3.23% | 0.10% | 3.13% |
65.3% of FTXR 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, FTXR or SPY?
FTXR 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, FTXR or SPY?
Over the past year FTXR returned +26.24% vs +17.48% for SPY, so FTXR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), FTXR annualized +8.76% vs +14.21% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FTXR or SPY?
FTXR has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FTXR -53.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FTXR and SPY?
FTXR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 FTXR and SPY?
65.3% of FTXR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.6% of SPY's is in holdings FTXR also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in FTXR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FTXR or SPY?
FTXR yields 1.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FTXR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FTXR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FTXR 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 59.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.