SPY vs USMF

SPY vs USMF

Which is better, SPY or USMF?

Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPY

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

MetricSPYUSMF
Expense Ratio0.09%Best0.28%
AUM$777.9B$232M
Dividend Yield1.00%1.29%
Holdings1,011403
YTD Return+12.09%Best-0.15%
1Y Return+12.45%Best-0.76%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.45%Best+10.31%
5Y Return (annualized)+11.87%Best+5.53%
Volatility (annualized)15.8%14.8%Best
Max Drawdown-34.1%Best-36.2%
$10,000 over 5 years$17,521Best$13,088
Fund FamilyState Street Investment ManagementWisdomTree Investments
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendMid Cap Blend
InceptionJan 22, 1993Jun 29, 2017

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2017 to Nov 11, 2026 (9.4 years).

SPY vs USMF 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 9.4 years both funds cover.

SPY vs USMF Performance

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and WisdomTree US Multifactor Fund (USMF) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year SPY returned +12.45% while USMF returned -0.76%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a loss of 0.15% for USMF.

Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.45% per year against +10.31% for USMF; over five years the annualized figures are +11.87% and +5.53% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.95% annualized vs +9.43%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 14.8% for USMF. 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 -36.2% for USMF. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SPY charges 0.09% per year while USMF charges 0.28%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $28 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.00% against 1.29% for USMF.

Holdings Overlap

SPY already in USMF38.9%

At least 38.9% of SPY's money is in holdings USMF also owns.

Stated as a floor: for USMF, our book for it covers 94.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

The two portfolios partly overlap.

109 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 195 in USMF, against full books of 1,011 and 403.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in SPYWeight in USMFDifference
AAPLApple Inc7.53%4.52%3.01%
NVDANvidia Corp8.05%3.80%4.25%
AVGOBroadcom Inc2.48%1.47%1.01%
LLYEli Lilly & Co1.45%1.47%0.02%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.1.55%1.03%0.52%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc1.40%0.85%0.55%
JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common0.92%0.96%0.04%
ABBVAbbvie Inc.0.75%0.76%0.01%
MRKMerck & Company Inc0.55%0.94%0.39%
EXPEExpedia Group Inc.0.05%1.34%1.29%

38.9% of SPY is already inside USMF.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

SPYUSMF

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SPY or USMF?

SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while USMF charges 0.28%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SPY or USMF?

Over the past year SPY returned +12.45% vs -0.76% for USMF, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SPY annualized +13.95% vs +9.43% for USMF. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SPY or USMF?

SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 14.8% for USMF. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs USMF -36.2%.

Should I hold both SPY and USMF?

SPY and USMF have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between SPY and USMF?

At least 38.9% of SPY's money is in holdings USMF also owns. Our book for USMF is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 109 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 195 in USMF.

Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or USMF?

SPY yields 1.00% while USMF yields 1.29%, so USMF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is USMF better than SPY?

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.