SOCL vs SPY
Global X Social Media ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SOCL or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.4%.
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 | SOCL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $89M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.47% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 50 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -20.29% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | -20.98% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.08% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -7.55% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 14.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -68.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $6,754 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 69.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 14, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.8 years).
SOCL 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 14.8 years both funds cover.
SOCL vs SPY Performance
Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SOCL returned -20.98% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, SOCL is down 20.29% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, SOCL compounded at +6.08% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -7.55% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.57% annualized vs +7.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOCL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.3% compared with 14.0% 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 -68.7% for SOCL and -34.1% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SOCL charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SOCL currently yields 0.47% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
14.2% of SOCL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 5.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SOCL also owns.
SOCL and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in SOCL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 50 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SOCL (94.2% of the fund), and 20 for SOCL that do not appear in SPY (38.8%).
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 SOCL 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, SOCL or SPY?
SOCL has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SOCL or SPY?
Over the past year SOCL returned -20.98% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SOCL annualized +7.92% vs +13.57% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SOCL or SPY?
SOCL has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 14.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SOCL -68.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SOCL and SPY?
SOCL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 SOCL and SPY?
14.2% of SOCL's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 5.3% of SPY's is in holdings SOCL also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 47 positions we hold weights for in SOCL and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOCL or SPY?
SOCL yields 0.47% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SOCL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 69.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.