NICO vs SPY

NICO vs SPY
See what your portfolio actually owns
Your funds unpacked, overlap, fees and score, free on screen. The full report comes with FundXLS. Download sample.
X-ray my portfolio free

Quick Verdict

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY offers more diversification with 505 holdings.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: TiedMore Diversified: SPY

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricNICOSPYWinner
Expense Ratio0.70%0.09%
AUM$2M$814.4B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.01%
Holdings15505
YTD Return-0.82%+12.87%
1Y Return-+21.13%
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.86%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.69%
Volatility (annualized)-15.3%
Max Drawdown-8.5%-56.5%
Fund FamilyHexis Capital Management Ltd.State Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
InceptionMay 6, 2026Jan 22, 1993

NICO vs SPY Performance

Hexis Active Nicotine Engagement ETF (NICO) is a ETF from Hexis Capital Management Ltd. and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, NICO is down 0.82% versus a gain of 12.87% for SPY.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -8.5% for NICO and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

Fees and Cost Over Time

NICO charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NICO currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

0.6%overlap

NICO and SPY share 2 holdings out of 517 unique holdings combined, representing a 0.6% weight overlap.

Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in NICOWeight in SPYDifference
PM13.00%0.44%12.56%
MO8.86%0.17%8.69%

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, NICO or SPY?

NICO has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $61 per year of difference.

What is the holdings overlap between NICO and SPY?

NICO and SPY share 2 common holdings with a 0.6% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 517 unique securities.

Which pays a higher dividend, NICO or SPY?

NICO yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Get Full ETF Analytics

Access complete holdings data, overlap analysis, screener tools, and more with FundXLS.

See what your portfolio actually owns
Your funds unpacked, overlap, fees and score, free on screen. The full report comes with FundXLS. Download sample.
X-ray my portfolio free