MSSS vs SPY
Monarch Select Subsector Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MSSS or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 99.9%.
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 | MSSS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.42% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $152M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.28% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 12 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.52%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +15.25% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 12.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.1% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,087 | $15,315Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 99.9% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Monarch Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 12, 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: Mar 7, 2024 to Sep 8, 2026 (2.5 years).
MSSS 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.
MSSS vs SPY Performance
Monarch Select Subsector Index ETF (MSSS) is an ETF from Monarch Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MSSS returned +15.25% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, MSSS is up 16.52% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MSSS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 12.1% 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 -19.1% for MSSS 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
MSSS charges 1.42% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $142 vs $9 annually, a gap of $133 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MSSS currently yields 0.28% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 10 holdings in MSSS and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 10 positions we hold weights for in MSSS and 503 in SPY, against full books of 12 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for MSSS (99.4% of the fund), and 10 for MSSS that do not appear in SPY (99.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MSSS 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, MSSS or SPY?
MSSS has an expense ratio of 1.42% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $133 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MSSS or SPY?
Over the past year MSSS returned +15.25% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MSSS or SPY?
MSSS has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 12.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MSSS -19.1% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both MSSS and SPY?
MSSS 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, MSSS or SPY?
MSSS yields 0.28% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MSSS?
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 99.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.