MSLC vs SPY
Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MSLC or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. MSLC is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | MSLC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $4.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 789 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.07% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.86% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 12.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,377 | $12,903Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Morgan Stanley | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.8 years).
MSLC 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
MSLC vs SPY Performance
Morgan Stanley Pathway Large Cap Equity ETF (MSLC) is an ETF from Morgan Stanley and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MSLC returned +12.86% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, MSLC is up 10.07% versus a gain of 12.09% 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 12.7% compared with 12.2% for MSLC. 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 -17.9% for MSLC 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MSLC charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MSLC currently yields 1.92% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
92.1% of MSLC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 97.8% of SPY's money is in holdings MSLC also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside MSLC. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
455 positions in common, counted across the 786 positions we hold weights for in MSLC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 789 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 45 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MSLC (1.7% of the fund), and 240 for MSLC that do not appear in SPY (4.9%).
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 MSLC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.79% | 8.01% | 1.22% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.23% | 7.26% | 2.03% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.51% | 5.66% | 0.15% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.05% | 3.79% | 0.26% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.26% | 2.99% | 0.27% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.47% | 2.66% | 0.19% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.97% | 2.39% | 0.42% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.94% | 1.93% | 0.01% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.56% | 1.60% | 0.04% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.58% | 1.45% | 0.13% |
97.8% of SPY is already inside MSLC.
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, MSLC or SPY?
MSLC has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MSLC or SPY?
Over the past year MSLC returned +12.86% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MSLC annualized +12.58% vs +15.21% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MSLC or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 12.2% for MSLC. Worst drawdown: MSLC -17.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both MSLC and SPY?
MSLC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between MSLC and SPY?
97.8% of SPY's money is in holdings MSLC also owns. 97.8% of SPY's is in holdings MSLC also owns. They hold 455 positions in common, counted across the 786 positions we hold weights for in MSLC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, MSLC or SPY?
MSLC yields 1.92% while SPY yields 0.98%, so MSLC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MSLC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. MSLC is less concentrated, with 34.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.