RFDA vs SPY
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, RFDA or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. RFDA is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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 | RFDA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $82M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.85% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 79 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.03%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.61% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.52%Best | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,852Best | $18,728 |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 7, 2016 to Sep 18, 2026 (10.3 years).
RFDA 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 10.3 years both funds cover.
RFDA vs SPY Performance
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF (RFDA) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year RFDA returned +17.48% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, RFDA is up 15.03% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, RFDA compounded at +19.61% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.52% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.08% annualized vs +12.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.1% for RFDA. 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 -34.8% for RFDA and -34.1% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFDA charges 0.52% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $9 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFDA currently yields 1.85% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.5% of RFDA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 37.6% of SPY's money is in holdings RFDA also owns.
Most of RFDA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
61 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 79 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 436 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for RFDA (61.8% of the fund), and 13 for RFDA that do not appear in SPY (12.6%).
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 RFDA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.22% | 8.01% | 4.79% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.91% | 7.26% | 5.35% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.56% | 5.66% | 3.10% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.08% | 1.45% | 1.63% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.82% | 2.39% | 0.57% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 3.18% | 0.99% | 2.19% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 2.80% | 0.55% | 2.25% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.96% | 1.04% | 0.92% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 2.56% | 0.34% | 2.22% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.28% | 0.56% | 1.72% |
82.5% of RFDA is already inside SPY.
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, RFDA or SPY?
RFDA has an expense ratio of 0.52% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFDA or SPY?
Over the past year RFDA returned +17.48% vs +16.29% for SPY, so RFDA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RFDA annualized +12.23% vs +14.08% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFDA or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for RFDA. Worst drawdown: RFDA -34.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both RFDA and SPY?
RFDA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 RFDA and SPY?
82.5% of RFDA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 37.6% of SPY's is in holdings RFDA also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFDA or SPY?
RFDA yields 1.85% while SPY yields 0.98%, so RFDA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than RFDA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. RFDA is less concentrated, with 26.6% 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.