SDEM vs SPY
Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SDEM or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SDEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SDEM is less concentrated, with 22.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | SDEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $52M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.88% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 66 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.13%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +28.61%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.23%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.21% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,515 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 16, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 17, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.5 years).
SDEM 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 11.5 years both funds cover.
SDEM vs SPY Performance
Global X MSCI SuperDividend Emerging Markets ETF (SDEM) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SDEM returned +28.61% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, SDEM is up 16.13% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, SDEM compounded at +21.23% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.21% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.82% annualized vs +1.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SDEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 15.0% 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 -57.2% for SDEM 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDEM charges 0.66% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $9 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDEM currently yields 4.88% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 56 holdings in SDEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.3% 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 56 positions we hold weights for in SDEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 66 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SDEM (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for SDEM that do not appear in SPY (3.9%).
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 SDEM 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, SDEM or SPY?
SDEM has an expense ratio of 0.66% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDEM or SPY?
Over the past year SDEM returned +28.61% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SDEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SDEM annualized +1.04% vs +12.82% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDEM or SPY?
SDEM has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SDEM -57.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SDEM and SPY?
SDEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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, SDEM or SPY?
SDEM yields 4.88% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SDEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SDEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SDEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SDEM is less concentrated, with 22.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.