ASCI vs SPY
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ASCI or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | ASCI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $78M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 55 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +5.85% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.40% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 13.1%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.6%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 1996 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
ASCI vs SPY 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.
ASCI vs SPY Performance
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF (ASCI) is an ETF from Aberdeen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ASCI returned +7.40% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, ASCI is up 5.85% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 13.1% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
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
ASCI charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCI currently yields 0.76% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 53 holdings in ASCI and 504 in SPY, totalling 97.4% and 99.8% 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 53 positions we hold weights for in ASCI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 55 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ASCI (99.1% of the fund), and 2 for ASCI that do not appear in SPY (2.6%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ASCI and SPY 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, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCI or SPY?
Over the past year ASCI returned +7.40% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both ASCI and SPY?
ASCI and SPY 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, ASCI or SPY?
ASCI yields 0.76% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ASCI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.