SPY vs XMAG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Defiance Large Cap ex-Mag 7 ETF
Which is better, SPY or XMAG?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. XMAG is less concentrated, with 18.6% 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 | XMAG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $182M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.46% |
| Holdings | 505 | 992 |
| YTD Return | +12.22% | +12.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.97%Best | +16.65% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.16% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.00% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -16.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,336Best | $12,882 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 18.6%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Defiance ETFs, LLC |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 21, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.9 years).
SPY vs XMAG 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 XMAG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Defiance Large Cap ex-Mag 7 ETF (XMAG) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC. Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% while XMAG returned +16.65%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.22% versus a gain of 12.97% for XMAG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 11.9% for XMAG. 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 -16.2% for XMAG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while XMAG charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $35 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.46% for XMAG.
Holdings Overlap
63.8% of SPY's money is in holdings XMAG also owns. 94.2% of XMAG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of XMAG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
425 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 493 in XMAG, against full books of 505 and 992.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 61 positions for XMAG that do not appear in our book for SPY (5.3% of the fund), and 74 for SPY that do not appear in XMAG (35.6%).
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 XMAG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 2.71% | 0.05% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 2.48% | 0.88% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 2.26% | 0.86% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.45% | 2.19% | 0.74% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.40% | 1.62% | 0.22% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.14% | 1.76% | 0.62% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.04% | 1.53% | 0.49% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.99% | 1.49% | 0.50% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.94% | 1.45% | 0.51% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.71% | 1.06% | 0.35% |
94.2% of XMAG 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 XMAG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while XMAG charges 0.35%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or XMAG?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% vs +16.65% for XMAG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SPY annualized +16.36% vs +14.26% for XMAG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or XMAG?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 11.9% for XMAG. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs XMAG -16.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and XMAG?
SPY and XMAG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 XMAG?
94.2% of XMAG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 94.2% of XMAG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 425 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 493 in XMAG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or XMAG?
SPY yields 0.98% while XMAG yields 0.46%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XMAG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. XMAG is less concentrated, with 18.6% 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.