FUND vs SPY
Sprott Focus Trust vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FUND or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
FUND led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | FUND | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.09% |
| AUM | $312M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 33 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.61%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +28.75%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.68% | +22.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.90% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,545 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Sprott ETFS | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 1, 1996 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 1996 to Sep 23, 2026 (30.7 years).
FUND 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 30.7 years both funds cover.
FUND vs SPY Performance
Sprott Focus Trust (FUND) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FUND returned +28.75% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, FUND is up 19.61% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, FUND compounded at +17.68% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.90% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.81% annualized vs +4.24%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FUND has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -71.6% for FUND and -56.5% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Holdings Overlap
19.5% of FUND's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings FUND also owns.
FUND and SPY share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, FUND as of Jun 30, 2026 and SPY as of Sep 1, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in FUND and 504 in SPY, against full books of 33 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FUND (98.0% of the fund), and 17 for FUND that do not appear in SPY (54.5%).
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 FUND 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 performed better, FUND or SPY?
Over the past year FUND returned +28.75% vs +16.73% for SPY, so FUND leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), FUND annualized +4.24% vs +8.81% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FUND or SPY?
FUND has been the more volatile fund at 22.0% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FUND -71.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both FUND and SPY?
FUND and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 FUND and SPY?
19.5% of FUND's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.3% of SPY's is in holdings FUND also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in FUND and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FUND or SPY?
FUND yields 5.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FUND currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FUND?
FUND led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.