LIT vs SPY
Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LIT or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LIT 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 65.8%.
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 | LIT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.72% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 45 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.83% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +44.15%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.32% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.74% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.3% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,160 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2010 to Sep 8, 2026 (16.1 years).
LIT 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
LIT vs SPY Performance
Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year LIT returned +44.15% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, LIT is up 11.83% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, LIT compounded at +9.32% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.74% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.28% annualized vs +5.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LIT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.3% compared with 14.2% 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 -65.9% for LIT 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LIT charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LIT currently yields 0.72% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
8.4% of LIT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings LIT also owns.
LIT and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in LIT and 503 in SPY, against full books of 45 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for LIT (98.0% of the fund), and 3 for LIT that do not appear in SPY (25.6%).
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 LIT 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 is cheaper, LIT or SPY?
LIT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LIT or SPY?
Over the past year LIT returned +44.15% vs +19.36% for SPY, so LIT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), LIT annualized +5.56% vs +13.28% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LIT or SPY?
LIT has been the more volatile fund at 28.3% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: LIT -65.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both LIT and SPY?
LIT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 LIT and SPY?
8.4% of LIT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings LIT also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in LIT and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, LIT or SPY?
LIT yields 0.72% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LIT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. LIT 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 65.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.