MATR vs SPY
Harbor Multi-Asset Total Return ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MATR or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.5%.
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 | MATR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.76% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 24 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.44% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.43% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.44% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.5%Best | 12.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $14,878 | $17,358Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.5% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 13, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 14, 2023 to Sep 16, 2026 (3 years).
MATR 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 3 years both funds cover.
MATR vs SPY Performance
Harbor Multi-Asset Total Return ETF (MATR) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MATR returned +9.43% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, MATR is up 5.44% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, MATR compounded at +14.44% per year against +20.73% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 8.5% for MATR. 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 -12.9% for MATR and -18.8% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MATR charges 0.80% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $9 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MATR currently yields 2.76% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 25 holdings in MATR and 504 in SPY, totalling 95.6% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in MATR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 24 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MATR (99.3% of the fund), and 23 for MATR that do not appear in SPY (92.5%).
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 MATR 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, MATR or SPY?
MATR has an expense ratio of 0.80% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MATR or SPY?
Over the past year MATR returned +9.43% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MATR or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 8.5% for MATR. Worst drawdown: MATR -12.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both MATR and SPY?
MATR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, MATR or SPY?
MATR yields 2.76% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MATR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MATR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.