SMIZ vs SPY
Zacks Small/Mid Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SMIZ or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMIZ is less concentrated, with 11.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | SMIZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $271M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.55% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 203 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.18% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.79% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.58% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -25.0% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $17,207 | $18,591Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Zacks | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 3, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 3, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.9 years).
SMIZ 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
SMIZ vs SPY Performance
Zacks Small/Mid Cap ETF (SMIZ) is an ETF from Zacks and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SMIZ returned +11.79% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SMIZ is up 11.18% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, SMIZ compounded at +20.58% per year against +21.18% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMIZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 12.4% 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 -25.0% for SMIZ 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMIZ charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMIZ currently yields 0.55% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
28.0% of SMIZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.8% of SPY's money is in holdings SMIZ also owns.
SMIZ and SPY share little of their money.
60 positions in common, counted across the 225 positions we hold weights for in SMIZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 203 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 434 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SMIZ (94.7% of the fund), and 124 for SMIZ that do not appear in SPY (59.9%).
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 SMIZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMEEmcor Group Inc | 1.62% | 0.05% | 1.57% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc. | 1.05% | 0.30% | 0.75% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 1.09% | 0.09% | 1.00% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 0.97% | 0.17% | 0.80% |
| NTRSNorthern Trust Corp. | 1.03% | 0.05% | 0.98% |
| EXPEExpedia Group Inc. | 0.99% | 0.05% | 0.94% |
| EXPDExpeditors International Of Washington Inc | 0.92% | 0.04% | 0.88% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 0.68% | 0.28% | 0.40% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.78% | 0.12% | 0.66% |
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.79% | 0.05% | 0.74% |
28.0% of SMIZ 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, SMIZ or SPY?
SMIZ has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMIZ or SPY?
Over the past year SMIZ returned +11.79% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMIZ or SPY?
SMIZ has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SMIZ -25.0% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SMIZ and SPY?
SMIZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 SMIZ and SPY?
28.0% of SMIZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 4.8% of SPY's is in holdings SMIZ also owns. They hold 60 positions in common, counted across the 225 positions we hold weights for in SMIZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMIZ or SPY?
SMIZ yields 0.55% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SMIZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMIZ is less concentrated, with 11.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.