BELT vs SPYM
iShares US Select Equity Active ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, BELT or SPYM?
Each has led over a different period.
SPYM has a lower expense ratio. BELT led over 1Y, SPYM over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPYM is less concentrated, with 39.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%.
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 | BELT | SPYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.02%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $185.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.02% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 20 | 509 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.1% | -18.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $13,054 | $14,369Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.5% | 39.0%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2024 | Nov 8, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 63 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BELT has data through Aug 12, 2026 and SPYM through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2024 to Aug 12, 2026 (2.1 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BELT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 12.2% for SPYM. 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 -23.1% for BELT and -18.7% for SPYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BELT charges 0.75% per year while SPYM charges 0.02%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $2 annually, a gap of $73 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BELT currently yields 0.02% against 1.01% for SPYM.
Holdings Overlap
83.1% of BELT's money is in holdings SPYM also owns. 21.0% of SPYM's money is in holdings BELT also owns.
Most of BELT is already inside SPYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 58 days apart, BELT as of Aug 5, 2026 and SPYM as of Oct 2, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
16 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 505 in SPYM, against full books of 20 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for SPYM that do not appear in our book for BELT (78.3% of the fund), and 1 for BELT that do not appear in SPYM (7.7%).
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 BELT | Weight in SPYM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 8.66% | 3.70% | 4.96% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.27% | 5.76% | 0.51% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.97% | 2.53% | 5.44% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 8.04% | 2.42% | 5.62% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace | 9.80% | 0.14% | 9.66% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.02% | 2.41% | 1.61% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 5.04% | 0.89% | 4.15% |
| VRTVertiv Holdings Co | 5.40% | 0.15% | 5.25% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 4.45% | 0.67% | 3.78% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.41% | 1.55% | 1.86% |
83.1% of BELT is already inside SPYM.
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, BELT or SPYM?
BELT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPYM charges 0.02%. SPYM is the cheaper option, by $73 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BELT or SPYM?
BELT has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 12.2% for SPYM. Worst drawdown: BELT -23.1% vs SPYM -18.7%.
Should I hold both BELT and SPYM?
BELT and SPYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 BELT and SPYM?
83.1% of BELT's money is in holdings SPYM also owns. 21.0% of SPYM's is in holdings BELT also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in BELT and 505 in SPYM.
Which pays a higher dividend, BELT or SPYM?
BELT yields 0.02% while SPYM yields 1.01%, so SPYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPYM better than BELT?
SPYM has a lower expense ratio. BELT led over 1Y, SPYM over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. SPYM is less concentrated, with 39.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.