SFY vs SPY
Sofi Select 500 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SFY or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SFY has a lower expense ratio. SFY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%.
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 | SFY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $686M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 506 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.80%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +20.00%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.67%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.01%Best | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,263Best | $18,205 |
| Top 10 Weight | 43.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | SoFi | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 10, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 11, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (7.4 years).
SFY 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 7.4 years both funds cover.
SFY vs SPY Performance
Sofi Select 500 ETF (SFY) is an ETF from SoFi and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SFY returned +20.00% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, SFY is up 13.80% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, SFY compounded at +24.67% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.01% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SFY has the edge at +17.00% annualized vs +15.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SFY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 16.6% 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 -33.3% for SFY 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SFY charges 0.05% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $9 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SFY currently yields 0.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.6% of SFY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 97.8% of SPY's money is in holdings SFY also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside SFY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
426 positions in common, counted across the 492 positions we hold weights for in SFY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 506 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SFY (1.9% of the fund), and 58 for SFY that do not appear in SPY (3.6%).
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 SFY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 15.46% | 7.71% | 7.75% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.60% | 6.83% | 2.23% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.70% | 5.50% | 0.80% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.02% | 4.08% | 1.06% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.87% | 2.97% | 0.90% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.10% | 3.33% | 1.23% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.48% | 1.51% | 1.97% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.96% | 2.67% | 0.71% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.86% | 1.94% | 0.08% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.41% | 1.33% | 1.08% |
97.8% of SPY is already inside SFY.
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, SFY or SPY?
SFY has an expense ratio of 0.05% while SPY charges 0.09%. SFY is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SFY or SPY?
Over the past year SFY returned +20.00% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SFY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SFY annualized +17.00% vs +15.07% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SFY or SPY?
SFY has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SFY -33.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SFY and SPY?
SFY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SFY and SPY?
97.8% of SPY's money is in holdings SFY also owns. 97.8% of SPY's is in holdings SFY also owns. They hold 426 positions in common, counted across the 492 positions we hold weights for in SFY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SFY or SPY?
SFY yields 0.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SFY?
SFY has a lower expense ratio. SFY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.