SPY vs WCME
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF
Which is better, SPY or WCME?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.0%.
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 | WCME |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.95% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $37M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.35% |
| Holdings | 505 | 43 |
| YTD Return | +11.52%Best | +8.56% |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | +14.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 17.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -15.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,568Best | $13,340 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 46.0% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | First Trust Portfolios (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 7, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.9 years).
SPY vs WCME 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WCME Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and First Trust WCM Developing World Equity ETF (WCME) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while WCME returned +14.71%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 8.56% for WCME.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WCME has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 12.9% 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 -15.6% for WCME. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WCME charges 0.95%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $95 annually, a gap of $86 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.35% for WCME.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 36 in WCME, totalling 100.0% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 36 in WCME, against full books of 505 and 43.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 4 positions for WCME that do not appear in our book for SPY (9.1% of the fund), and 494 for SPY that do not appear in WCME (99.5%).
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 WCME 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 WCME?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WCME charges 0.95%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $86 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WCME?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +14.71% for WCME, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +17.42% vs +16.38% for WCME. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WCME?
WCME has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 12.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs WCME -15.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and WCME?
SPY and WCME have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 WCME?
SPY yields 0.98% while WCME yields 0.35%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WCME better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.