MOTI vs SPY
VanEck Morningstar International Moat ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MOTI or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MOTI is less concentrated, with 28.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | MOTI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.20% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 47 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -1.64% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.21% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.16% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.88% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,096 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.1 years).
MOTI 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
MOTI vs SPY Performance
VanEck Morningstar International Moat ETF (MOTI) 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 MOTI returned +0.21% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, MOTI is down 1.64% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, MOTI compounded at +8.16% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.88% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.09% annualized vs +4.88%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MOTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 15.2% 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 -36.7% for MOTI 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MOTI charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MOTI currently yields 3.20% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
2.0% of MOTI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings MOTI also owns.
MOTI and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in MOTI and 503 in SPY, against full books of 47 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MOTI (99.4% of the fund), and 1 for MOTI that do not appear in SPY (2.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in MOTI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UMG:ASUniversal Music Group NV | 1.98% | 0.06% | 1.92% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MOTI 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, MOTI or SPY?
MOTI has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MOTI or SPY?
Over the past year MOTI returned +0.21% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), MOTI annualized +4.88% vs +13.09% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MOTI or SPY?
MOTI has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MOTI -36.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both MOTI and SPY?
MOTI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 MOTI and SPY?
2.0% of MOTI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings MOTI also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in MOTI and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, MOTI or SPY?
MOTI yields 3.20% while SPY yields 1.01%, so MOTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MOTI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. MOTI is less concentrated, with 28.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.