SPEM vs SPY
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SPEM or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPEM has a lower expense ratio. SPEM led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% 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 | SPEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $17.9B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 3,044 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.88% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.86%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.36% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.47% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,682 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.2%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 19, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 23, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.5 years).
SPEM 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 19.5 years both funds cover.
SPEM vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SPEM returned +23.86% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, SPEM is up 12.88% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, SPEM compounded at +18.36% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.47% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.44% annualized vs +4.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.5% 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 -65.1% for SPEM 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
SPEM charges 0.07% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $9 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPEM currently yields 2.54% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SPEM also owns.
SPY and SPEM share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, SPEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 2,856 positions we hold weights for in SPEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 3,044 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SPEM (98.1% of the fund), and 43 for SPEM that do not appear in SPY (2.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPEM 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, SPEM or SPY?
SPEM has an expense ratio of 0.07% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPEM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPEM or SPY?
Over the past year SPEM returned +23.86% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPEM annualized +4.01% vs +9.44% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPEM or SPY?
SPEM has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPEM -65.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SPEM and SPY?
SPEM 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 SPEM and SPY?
1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SPEM also owns. 1.3% of SPY's is in holdings SPEM also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 2,856 positions we hold weights for in SPEM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPEM or SPY?
SPEM yields 2.54% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SPEM?
SPEM has a lower expense ratio. SPEM led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEM is less concentrated, with 24.2% 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.