SLYG vs SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SLYG or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SLYG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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 | SLYG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $4.9B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.67% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 351 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.03%Best | +11.45% |
| 1Y Return | +17.09%Best | +15.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.28% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.28% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,934 | $18,093Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 2, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026 (26 years).
SLYG 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 26 years both funds cover.
SLYG vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF (SLYG) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SLYG returned +17.09% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, SLYG is up 15.03% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, SLYG compounded at +14.28% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.28% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.92% annualized vs +6.16%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SLYG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.2% 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 -62.1% for SLYG and -56.5% 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SLYG 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, SLYG currently yields 0.67% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 347 holdings in SLYG and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.1% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 347 positions we hold weights for in SLYG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 351 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SLYG (99.3% of the fund), and 340 for SLYG that do not appear in SPY (96.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SLYG and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SLYG or SPY?
SLYG 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, SLYG or SPY?
Over the past year SLYG returned +17.09% vs +15.87% for SPY, so SLYG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), SLYG annualized +6.16% vs +6.92% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SLYG or SPY?
SLYG has been the more volatile fund at 21.2% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SLYG -62.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SLYG and SPY?
SLYG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SLYG or SPY?
SLYG yields 0.67% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SLYG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SLYG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SLYG is less concentrated, with 9.8% 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.