SEPQ vs SPY
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SEPQ or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEPQ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%.
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 | SEPQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.33% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 196 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +20.95%Best | +14.30% |
| 1Y Return | +20.23%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.16% | +23.23%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $18,738 | $21,198Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.2% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Shelton Capital Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | 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 19, 2022 to Oct 5, 2026 (4.4 years).
SEPQ 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.
SEPQ vs SPY Performance
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (SEPQ) is an ETF from Shelton Capital Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SEPQ returned +20.23% while SPY returned +16.61%. Year to date, SEPQ is up 20.95% versus a gain of 14.30% for SPY.
Over three years, SEPQ compounded at +23.16% per year against +23.23% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +18.62% annualized vs +15.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.1% 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 -23.4% for SEPQ 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SEPQ 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, SEPQ currently yields 11.33% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
92.6% of SEPQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.6% of SPY's money is in holdings SEPQ also owns.
Most of SEPQ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
86 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SEPQ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 196 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 411 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SEPQ (45.6% of the fund), and 8 for SEPQ that do not appear in SPY (1.7%).
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 SEPQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.17% | 7.45% | 0.72% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.57% | 7.78% | 0.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.25% | 5.71% | 0.54% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.29% | 3.78% | 0.51% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.38% | 3.12% | 0.26% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.52% | 1.59% | 2.93% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.55% | 2.22% | 1.33% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.10% | 2.49% | 0.61% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.57% | 2.48% | 0.09% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.50% | 1.22% | 2.28% |
92.6% of SEPQ 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, SEPQ or SPY?
SEPQ 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, SEPQ or SPY?
Over the past year SEPQ returned +20.23% vs +16.61% for SPY, so SEPQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SEPQ annualized +15.34% vs +18.62% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SEPQ or SPY?
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SEPQ -23.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SEPQ and SPY?
SEPQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 SEPQ and SPY?
92.6% of SEPQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 53.6% of SPY's is in holdings SEPQ also owns. They hold 86 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SEPQ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SEPQ or SPY?
SEPQ yields 11.33% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SEPQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SEPQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEPQ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.