SMOM vs SPY
Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SMOM or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93.
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 | SMOM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $73M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.15% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 6 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.71%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +16.60% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.6%Best | 13.1% |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Symmetry Partners | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 9, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SMOM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SMOM vs SPY Performance
Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF (SMOM) is an ETF from Symmetry Partners and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SMOM returned +16.60% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, SMOM is up 13.71% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 10.6% for SMOM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOM charges 0.63% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $9 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOM currently yields 0.15% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in SMOM and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.2% and 100.0% 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 6 positions we hold weights for in SMOM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 6 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 6 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 496 positions SMOM does not, 99.5% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMOM 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, SMOM or SPY?
SMOM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOM or SPY?
Over the past year SMOM returned +16.60% vs +19.97% 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, SMOM or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 10.6% for SMOM.
Should I hold both SMOM and SPY?
SMOM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOM or SPY?
SMOM yields 0.15% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SMOM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.