SELV vs SPY
SEI QiM US Large Cap Low Volatility Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SELV or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SELV is less concentrated, with 26.9% 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 | SELV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $252M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 77 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +8.71% | +14.77%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.78% | +18.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.55% | +22.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.7%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $15,064 | $21,072Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.9%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | SEI EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 18, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 18, 2022 to Oct 13, 2026 (4.4 years).
SELV 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 4.4 years both funds cover.
SELV vs SPY Performance
SEI QiM US Large Cap Low Volatility Active ETF (SELV) 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 SELV returned +11.78% while SPY returned +18.61%. Year to date, SELV is up 8.71% versus a gain of 14.77% for SPY.
Over three years, SELV compounded at +13.55% per year against +22.83% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +18.46% annualized vs +9.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 12.1% for SELV. 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 -13.7% for SELV 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SELV charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SELV currently yields 1.24% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
91.7% of SELV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SELV also owns.
Most of SELV is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
64 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in SELV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 77 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 433 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SELV (68.1% of the fund), and 11 for SELV that do not appear in SPY (7.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SELV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.04% | 7.45% | 4.41% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.62% | 5.71% | 3.09% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.45% | 2.49% | 0.04% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.98% | 0.98% | 2.00% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 2.67% | 0.66% | 2.01% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 2.30% | 0.95% | 1.35% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 2.43% | 0.73% | 1.70% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.61% | 0.54% | 2.07% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.02% | 3.12% | 3.10% |
| CAHCardinal Health Inc. | 2.92% | 0.08% | 2.84% |
91.7% of SELV 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, SELV or SPY?
SELV has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SELV or SPY?
Over the past year SELV returned +11.78% vs +18.61% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SELV annualized +9.76% vs +18.46% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SELV or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 12.1% for SELV. Worst drawdown: SELV -13.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SELV and SPY?
SELV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 SELV and SPY?
91.7% of SELV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.1% of SPY's is in holdings SELV also owns. They hold 64 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in SELV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SELV or SPY?
SELV yields 1.24% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SELV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SELV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SELV is less concentrated, with 26.9% 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.