SPY vs STXI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Strive International Developed Markets ETF
Which is better, SPY or STXI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. STXI led over 1Y and the full window. STXI is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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 | SPY | STXI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.29% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $21M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.84% |
| Holdings | 505 | 253 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.1%Best | 13.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -14.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,013 | $12,564Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Strive Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jun 11, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 167 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPY has data through Sep 9, 2026 and STXI through Mar 26, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2024 to Mar 26, 2026 (1.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
STXI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 11.1% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -14.1% for STXI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while STXI charges 0.29%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $29 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 2.84% for STXI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 250 in STXI, totalling 100.0% and 99.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 186 days apart, SPY as of Aug 4, 2026 and STXI as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 250 in STXI, against full books of 505 and 253.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for STXI that do not appear in our book for SPY (4.1% of the fund), and 495 for SPY that do not appear in STXI (99.4%).
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 SPY and STXI 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, SPY or STXI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while STXI charges 0.29%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or STXI?
STXI has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 11.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs STXI -14.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and STXI?
SPY and STXI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or STXI?
SPY yields 0.98% while STXI yields 2.84%, so STXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is STXI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. STXI led over 1Y and the full window. STXI is less concentrated, with 15.2% 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.