MORT vs SPY
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MORT or SPY?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.8%.
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 | MORT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $374M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 15.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 25 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -7.37% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.79% | +16.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.93% | +22.84%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.77% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.1% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,690 | $18,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 74.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 16, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 17, 2011 to Sep 22, 2026 (15.1 years).
MORT 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 15.1 years both funds cover.
MORT vs SPY Performance
VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (MORT) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MORT returned -0.79% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, MORT is down 7.37% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, MORT compounded at +4.93% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -2.77% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.71% annualized vs -2.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MORT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.1% compared with 14.3% 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 -75.0% for MORT 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MORT charges 0.43% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $9 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MORT currently yields 15.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 24 holdings in MORT and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.3% 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 24 positions we hold weights for in MORT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 25 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 24 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 497 positions MORT does not, 99.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MORT 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, MORT or SPY?
MORT has an expense ratio of 0.43% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MORT or SPY?
Over the past year MORT returned -0.79% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), MORT annualized -2.41% vs +13.71% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MORT or SPY?
MORT has been the more volatile fund at 24.1% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MORT -75.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both MORT and SPY?
MORT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, MORT or SPY?
MORT yields 15.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MORT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MORT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 74.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.