SIXL vs SPY
6 Meridian Low Beta Equity Strategy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SIXL or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SIXL is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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 | SIXL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.46% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $205M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.16% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 241 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.55% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.66% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.09% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.44% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 15.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.1%Best | -24.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,426 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.7%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | 6 Meridian ETF | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 11, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 11, 2020 to Sep 16, 2026 (6.3 years).
SIXL 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 6.3 years both funds cover.
SIXL vs SPY Performance
6 Meridian Low Beta Equity Strategy ETF (SIXL) is an ETF from 6 Meridian ETF and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SIXL returned +8.66% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, SIXL is up 7.55% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, SIXL compounded at +9.09% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.44% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +17.45% annualized vs +8.20%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 12.4% for SIXL. 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 -16.1% for SIXL and -24.5% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SIXL charges 0.46% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $46 vs $9 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SIXL currently yields 2.16% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
31.4% of SIXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 9.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SIXL also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
79 positions in common, counted across the 241 positions we hold weights for in SIXL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 241 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 419 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SIXL (90.0% of the fund), and 154 for SIXL that do not appear in SPY (65.5%).
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 SIXL | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.46% | 0.99% | 0.53% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 0.47% | 0.52% | 0.05% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.39% | 0.52% | 0.13% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 0.45% | 0.44% | 0.01% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 0.40% | 0.32% | 0.08% |
| ELVElevance Health Inc | 0.57% | 0.13% | 0.44% |
| CVSCvs Corp | 0.51% | 0.19% | 0.32% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.40% | 0.29% | 0.11% |
| BMYBristol-Myers Squibb Co. | 0.45% | 0.21% | 0.24% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.36% | 0.29% | 0.07% |
31.4% of SIXL 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, SIXL or SPY?
SIXL has an expense ratio of 0.46% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SIXL or SPY?
Over the past year SIXL returned +8.66% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SIXL annualized +8.20% vs +17.45% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SIXL or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 12.4% for SIXL. Worst drawdown: SIXL -16.1% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both SIXL and SPY?
SIXL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 SIXL and SPY?
31.4% of SIXL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 9.4% of SPY's is in holdings SIXL also owns. They hold 79 positions in common, counted across the 241 positions we hold weights for in SIXL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SIXL or SPY?
SIXL yields 2.16% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SIXL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SIXL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SIXL is less concentrated, with 6.7% 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.