SMOG vs SPY
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SMOG or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SMOG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | SMOG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $125M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 57 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.45% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.13%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.17% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.71% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.5% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -84.4% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,174 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 3, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 9, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.3 years).
SMOG 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
SMOG vs SPY Performance
VanEck Low Carbon Energy ETF (SMOG) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SMOG returned +18.13% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, SMOG is up 4.45% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, SMOG compounded at +8.17% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.71% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.11% annualized vs +1.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.5% compared with 15.6% 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 -84.4% for SMOG 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOG charges 0.64% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $9 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOG currently yields 1.56% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
17.7% of SMOG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.7% of SPY's money is in holdings SMOG also owns.
SMOG and SPY share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 57 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SMOG (97.8% of the fund), and 17 for SMOG that do not appear in SPY (33.2%).
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 SMOG 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, SMOG or SPY?
SMOG has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOG or SPY?
Over the past year SMOG returned +18.13% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SMOG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SMOG annualized +1.61% vs +9.11% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOG or SPY?
SMOG has been the more volatile fund at 28.5% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SMOG -84.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SMOG and SPY?
SMOG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 SMOG and SPY?
17.7% of SMOG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.7% of SPY's is in holdings SMOG also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in SMOG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOG or SPY?
SMOG yields 1.56% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SMOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SMOG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SMOG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.