SMOT vs SPY
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SMOT or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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 | SMOT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.21% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 111 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.22% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.90% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.65% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $15,466 | $21,215Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 4, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 6, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (3.9 years).
SMOT 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SMOT vs SPY Performance
VanEck Morningstar SMID Moat ETF (SMOT) 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 SMOT returned +7.90% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, SMOT is up 7.22% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, SMOT compounded at +10.65% per year against +20.62% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +21.27% annualized vs +11.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMOT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 13.0% 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 -23.4% for SMOT 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMOT charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOT currently yields 1.21% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
66.3% of SMOT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.7% of SPY's money is in holdings SMOT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
72 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 111 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 422 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SMOT (95.8% of the fund), and 36 for SMOT that do not appear in SPY (30.6%).
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 SMOT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| IQVIqvia Holdings Inc. | 1.78% | 0.06% | 1.72% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 1.68% | 0.09% | 1.59% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 1.66% | 0.02% | 1.64% |
| BDXBecton Dickinson And Co. | 1.48% | 0.07% | 1.41% |
| CTVACorteva Inc. | 1.43% | 0.08% | 1.35% |
| SQBlock, Inc | 1.42% | 0.07% | 1.35% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. | 1.42% | 0.05% | 1.37% |
| AMCRAmcor Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.43% | 0.03% | 1.40% |
| DVNDevon Energy Corp. | 1.35% | 0.08% | 1.27% |
| ELEstee Lauder Cos., Inc. | 1.40% | 0.03% | 1.37% |
66.3% of SMOT 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, SMOT or SPY?
SMOT has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMOT or SPY?
Over the past year SMOT returned +7.90% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SMOT annualized +11.83% vs +21.27% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMOT or SPY?
SMOT has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 13.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SMOT -23.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SMOT and SPY?
SMOT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 SMOT and SPY?
66.3% of SMOT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.7% of SPY's is in holdings SMOT also owns. They hold 72 positions in common, counted across the 110 positions we hold weights for in SMOT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMOT or SPY?
SMOT yields 1.21% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SMOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SMOT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SMOT is less concentrated, with 15.4% 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.