SEEM vs SPY
SEI Select Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SEEM or SPY?
SEEM has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEEM led over 1Y and the full window. SEEM is less concentrated, with 35.3% 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 | SEEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $674M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.61% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 276 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +26.88%Best | +13.81% |
| 1Y Return | +36.41%Best | +16.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.50% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.7% | 12.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.0%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $16,837Best | $13,590 |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.3%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 10, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2024 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.9 years).
SEEM 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
SEEM vs SPY Performance
SEI Select Emerging Markets Equity ETF (SEEM) is an ETF from SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SEEM returned +36.41% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, SEEM is up 26.88% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 12.8% 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 -14.0% for SEEM 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SEEM charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SEEM currently yields 2.61% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 250 holdings in SEEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.3% 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 250 positions we hold weights for in SEEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 276 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SEEM (99.3% of the fund), and 5 for SEEM that do not appear in SPY (1.1%).
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 SEEM 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, SEEM or SPY?
SEEM has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SEEM or SPY?
Over the past year SEEM returned +36.41% vs +16.94% for SPY, so SEEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SEEM annualized +31.55% vs +17.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SEEM or SPY?
SEEM has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 12.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SEEM -14.0% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SEEM and SPY?
SEEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, SEEM or SPY?
SEEM yields 2.61% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SEEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SEEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEEM led over 1Y and the full window. SEEM is less concentrated, with 35.3% 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.