QSML vs SPY
WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, QSML or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QSML led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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 | QSML | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 391 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.94%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +17.51%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.16% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.3% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $13,392 | $15,967Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.7%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 25, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.6 years).
QSML 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
QSML vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree US SmallCap Quality Growth Fund (QSML) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year QSML returned +17.51% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, QSML is up 14.94% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QSML has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% compared with 12.0% 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 -28.3% for QSML 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QSML charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QSML currently yields 0.52% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 375 holdings in QSML and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.2% and 99.9% 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 375 positions we hold weights for in QSML and 504 in SPY, against full books of 391 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for QSML (99.3% of the fund), and 362 for QSML that do not appear in SPY (95.1%).
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 QSML 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, QSML or SPY?
QSML has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QSML or SPY?
Over the past year QSML returned +17.51% vs +16.97% for SPY, so QSML leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QSML or SPY?
QSML has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 12.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: QSML -28.3% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both QSML and SPY?
QSML and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, QSML or SPY?
QSML yields 0.52% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than QSML?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. QSML led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. QSML is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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.