MDST vs SPY
Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MDST or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. MDST led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.6%.
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 | MDST | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $300M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.86% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 110 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.78%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +20.19%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.9%Best | 11.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.2%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,931 | $15,428Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 64.6% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Westwood Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 8, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 9, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026 (2.5 years).
MDST 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
MDST vs SPY Performance
Westwood Salient Enhanced Midstream Income ETF (MDST) is an ETF from Westwood Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MDST returned +20.19% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, MDST is up 16.78% versus a gain of 13.82% 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 11.7% compared with 10.9% for MDST. 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 -14.2% for MDST 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 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MDST 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, MDST currently yields 9.86% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
24.0% of MDST's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's money is in holdings MDST also owns.
MDST and SPY share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in MDST and 504 in SPY, against full books of 110 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MDST (98.9% of the fund), and 17 for MDST that do not appear in SPY (58.1%).
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.
24.0% of MDST 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, MDST or SPY?
MDST 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, MDST or SPY?
Over the past year MDST returned +20.19% vs +16.96% for SPY, so MDST leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MDST or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.7% annualized versus 10.9% for MDST. Worst drawdown: MDST -14.2% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both MDST and SPY?
MDST and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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 MDST and SPY?
24.0% of MDST's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.4% of SPY's is in holdings MDST also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in MDST and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, MDST or SPY?
MDST yields 9.86% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MDST currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MDST?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. MDST led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 64.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.