SAMM vs SPY
Strategas Macro Momentum ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SAMM or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SAMM is less concentrated, with 27.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | SAMM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $45M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.95% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 41 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +19.67%Best | +14.30% |
| 1Y Return | +24.20%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.23% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1% | 11.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.6% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,892 | $15,542Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.8%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Strategas Asset Management, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 3, 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: Apr 4, 2024 to Oct 5, 2026 (2.5 years).
SAMM 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.
SAMM vs SPY Performance
Strategas Macro Momentum ETF (SAMM) is an ETF from Strategas Asset Management, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SAMM returned +24.20% while SPY returned +16.61%. Year to date, SAMM is up 19.67% versus a gain of 14.30% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAMM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 11.6% 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 -24.6% for SAMM 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAMM charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAMM currently yields 0.95% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
60.2% of SAMM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.9% of SPY's money is in holdings SAMM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
24 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in SAMM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 41 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 473 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SAMM (91.3% of the fund), and 14 for SAMM that do not appear in SPY (34.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SAMM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.53% | 1.59% | 0.94% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.60% | 1.22% | 1.38% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.82% | 0.73% | 2.09% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 3.03% | 0.24% | 2.79% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 2.69% | 0.36% | 2.33% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 2.63% | 0.35% | 2.28% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 2.79% | 0.11% | 2.68% |
| VLOValero Energy | 2.72% | 0.17% | 2.55% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 2.65% | 0.18% | 2.47% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 2.29% | 0.52% | 1.77% |
60.2% of SAMM 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, SAMM or SPY?
SAMM has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAMM or SPY?
Over the past year SAMM returned +24.20% vs +16.61% for SPY, so SAMM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAMM or SPY?
SAMM has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 11.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SAMM -24.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SAMM and SPY?
SAMM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SAMM and SPY?
60.2% of SAMM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 7.9% of SPY's is in holdings SAMM also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in SAMM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAMM or SPY?
SAMM yields 0.95% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SAMM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SAMM is less concentrated, with 27.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.