SPY vs TMFM
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Motley Fool Mid Cap Growth ETF
Which is better, SPY or TMFM?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%.
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 | TMFM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.85% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $117M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 36 |
| YTD Return | +13.81%Best | -7.15% |
| 1Y Return | +16.94%Best | -13.86% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.84%Best | +2.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.50% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7%Best | 18.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -31.8% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $17,729Best | $8,908 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 46.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Motley Fool Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jun 17, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 13, 2021 to Sep 22, 2026 (4.8 years).
SPY vs TMFM 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TMFM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Motley Fool Mid Cap Growth ETF (TMFM) is an ETF from Motley Fool Asset Management. Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% while TMFM returned -13.86%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.81% versus a loss of 7.15% for TMFM.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.84% per year against +2.46% for TMFM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TMFM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 15.7% 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 -24.5% for SPY and -31.8% for TMFM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TMFM charges 0.85%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $85 annually, a gap of $76 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for TMFM.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of SPY's money is in holdings TMFM also owns. 46.5% of TMFM's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
13 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 32 in TMFM, against full books of 505 and 36.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 17 positions for TMFM that do not appear in our book for SPY (49.5% of the fund), and 484 for SPY that do not appear in TMFM (98.7%).
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 TMFM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXCMDexcom Inc. | 0.05% | 5.89% | 5.84% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 0.06% | 4.47% | 4.41% |
| TYLTyler Technologies Inc | 0.02% | 4.31% | 4.29% |
| BRBroadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. | 0.03% | 4.26% | 4.23% |
| BROBrown & Brown Inc | 0.03% | 3.94% | 3.91% |
| WATWaters Corp. | 0.06% | 3.84% | 3.78% |
| SBACSba Communications Corp. Class A Real Estate Investment Tru | 0.03% | 3.86% | 3.83% |
| ADSKAutodesk, Inc. | 0.08% | 3.70% | 3.62% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 0.11% | 3.54% | 3.43% |
| FASTFastenal Co. | 0.09% | 2.44% | 2.35% |
46.5% of TMFM 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 TMFM?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TMFM charges 0.85%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $76 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TMFM?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% vs -13.86% for TMFM, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TMFM?
TMFM has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs TMFM -31.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and TMFM?
SPY and TMFM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 TMFM?
46.5% of TMFM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 46.5% of TMFM's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 32 in TMFM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TMFM?
SPY yields 0.98% while TMFM yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TMFM better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.