SEMI vs SPY
Columbia Select Technology ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SEMI or SPY?
SEMI has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEMI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.8%.
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 | SEMI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $40M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.76% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 36 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +28.32%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +31.54%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +30.38%Best | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.8% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.9% | -21.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.5 years | $21,335Best | $17,912 |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 29, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 30, 2022 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.5 years).
SEMI 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 4.5 years both funds cover.
SEMI vs SPY Performance
Columbia Select Technology ETF (SEMI) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SEMI returned +31.54% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, SEMI is up 28.32% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, SEMI compounded at +30.38% per year against +22.97% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEMI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.8% compared with 15.7% 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 -32.9% for SEMI and -21.6% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SEMI charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SEMI currently yields 3.76% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.5% of SEMI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 43.6% of SPY's money is in holdings SEMI also owns.
Most of SEMI is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
32 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in SEMI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 36 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SEMI (55.7% of the fund), and 0 for SEMI that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 SEMI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 14.72% | 8.01% | 6.71% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.11% | 7.26% | 0.85% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.36% | 5.66% | 0.70% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.67% | 2.66% | 5.01% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 6.71% | 1.60% | 5.11% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.68% | 3.79% | 0.11% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.29% | 2.99% | 1.30% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 6.25% | 0.55% | 5.70% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.03% | 1.93% | 0.10% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 3.15% | 0.53% | 2.62% |
89.5% of SEMI 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, SEMI or SPY?
SEMI has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SEMI or SPY?
Over the past year SEMI returned +31.54% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SEMI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SEMI or SPY?
SEMI has been the more volatile fund at 28.8% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SEMI -32.9% vs SPY -21.6%.
Should I hold both SEMI and SPY?
SEMI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 SEMI and SPY?
89.5% of SEMI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 43.6% of SPY's is in holdings SEMI also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in SEMI and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SEMI or SPY?
SEMI yields 3.76% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SEMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SEMI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEMI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.