SPY vs SZNE
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Pacer CFRA-Stovall Equal Weight Seasonal Rotation ETF
Which is better, SPY or SZNE?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SZNE is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | SZNE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.60% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $13M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.31% |
| Holdings | 505 | 230 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0%Best | 18.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -40.4% |
| $10,000 over 7.8 years | $28,519Best | $16,188 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 10.4%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Pacer ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 23, 2018 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 123 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 14, 2026 and SZNE through May 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 7.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 24, 2018 to May 14, 2026 (7.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SZNE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 17.0% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -40.4% for SZNE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SZNE charges 0.60%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $60 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.31% for SZNE.
Holdings Overlap
55.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SZNE also owns. 93.1% of SZNE's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of SZNE is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 244 days apart, SPY as of Sep 1, 2026 and SZNE as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
213 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 224 in SZNE, against full books of 505 and 230.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 7 positions for SZNE that do not appear in our book for SPY (3.9% of the fund), and 284 for SPY that do not appear in SZNE (43.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in SZNE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 0.35% | 7.66% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 0.32% | 6.94% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 0.34% | 5.32% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 0.52% | 3.27% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 0.29% | 2.37% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 0.45% | 1.15% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 0.48% | 1.04% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.14% | 0.33% | 0.81% |
| LINLinde Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.34% | 1.04% | 0.70% |
| NEMNewmont Corp Common | 0.20% | 1.08% | 0.88% |
93.1% of SZNE 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, SPY or SZNE?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SZNE charges 0.60%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or SZNE?
SZNE has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 17.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs SZNE -40.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and SZNE?
SPY and SZNE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 SPY and SZNE?
93.1% of SZNE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 93.1% of SZNE's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 213 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 224 in SZNE.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SZNE?
SPY yields 0.98% while SZNE yields 1.31%, so SZNE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SZNE better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SZNE is less concentrated, with 10.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.