MCSE vs SPY
Franklin Sustainable International Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MCSE or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%.
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 | MCSE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.77% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 28 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.9% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.2 years | $12,200 | $18,698Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 51.7% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 31, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 239 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. MCSE has data through Jan 8, 2026 and SPY through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2022 to Jan 8, 2026 (3.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MCSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 12.4% 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 -25.9% for MCSE 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MCSE charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MCSE currently yields 3.77% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
14.6% of MCSE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's money is in holdings MCSE also owns.
MCSE and SPY share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 249 days apart, MCSE as of Nov 28, 2025 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in MCSE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 28 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MCSE (99.0% of the fund), and 0 for MCSE that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MCSE 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, MCSE or SPY?
MCSE has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, MCSE or SPY?
MCSE has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MCSE -25.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both MCSE and SPY?
MCSE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 MCSE and SPY?
14.6% of MCSE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's is in holdings MCSE also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in MCSE and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, MCSE or SPY?
MCSE yields 3.77% while SPY yields 1.01%, so MCSE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MCSE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 51.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.