SPY vs XLEM
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs State Street S&P 500 Energy Market Sector SPDR ETF
Which is better, SPY or XLEM?
SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio.
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 | XLEM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.12% |
| AUM | $777.9B | $467,214.15 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 1,011 | 7 |
| YTD Return | +8.47%Best | -8.82% |
| 1Y Return | +10.88% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.41% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.90% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.9% | - |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 13, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SPY vs XLEM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs XLEM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street S&P 500 Energy Market Sector SPDR ETF (XLEM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, SPY is up 8.47% versus a loss of 8.82% for XLEM.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while XLEM charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $12 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.00% against 0.00% for XLEM.
Holdings Overlap
2.7% of SPY's money is in holdings XLEM also owns. 100.0% of XLEM's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of XLEM is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
7 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 7 in XLEM, against full books of 1,011 and 7.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 504 and 7 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 492 positions XLEM does not, 97.0% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.05%, AAPL 7.53%, MSFT 5.96%, AMZN 3.75%, GOOGL 3.07%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in XLEM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| STTState Street Corp. | 0.07% | 84.70% | 84.63% |
| XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corp Common Stock Usd | 1.09% | 9.46% | 8.37% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 0.66% | 2.57% | 1.91% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 0.26% | 0.99% | 0.73% |
| VLOValero Energy | 0.20% | 0.90% | 0.70% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 0.20% | 0.84% | 0.64% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.18% | 0.53% | 0.35% |
100.0% of XLEM 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 XLEM?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while XLEM charges 0.12%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and XLEM?
100.0% of XLEM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 100.0% of XLEM's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 7 in XLEM.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or XLEM?
SPY yields 1.00% while XLEM yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XLEM better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.