NSI vs SPY
National Security Emerging Markets Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NSI or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NSI led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.5%.
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 | NSI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $42M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 105 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.56%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +23.49%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $16,735 | $17,239Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | National Security Index | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 6, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.8 years).
NSI 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
NSI vs SPY Performance
National Security Emerging Markets Index ETF (NSI) is an ETF from National Security Index and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year NSI returned +23.49% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, NSI is up 11.56% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NSI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 11.9% 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 -16.6% for NSI 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NSI charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NSI currently yields 1.21% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 101 holdings in NSI and 504 in SPY, totalling 96.3% 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 101 positions we hold weights for in NSI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 105 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NSI (99.5% of the fund), and 43 for NSI that do not appear in SPY (33.5%).
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 NSI 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, NSI or SPY?
NSI has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NSI or SPY?
Over the past year NSI returned +23.49% vs +17.48% for SPY, so NSI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NSI or SPY?
NSI has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 11.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NSI -16.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both NSI and SPY?
NSI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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, NSI or SPY?
NSI yields 1.21% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NSI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NSI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NSI led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.