DEMZ vs SPY
Democratic Large Cap Core ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DEMZ or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEMZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%.
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 | DEMZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $70M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.86% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 129 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +14.39%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +18.24%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.93%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.70% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.2% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,181 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.9% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | DEMZ | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 2, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 3, 2020 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.9 years).
DEMZ 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 covers the 5.9 years both funds cover.
DEMZ vs SPY Performance
Democratic Large Cap Core ETF (DEMZ) is an ETF from DEMZ and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DEMZ returned +18.24% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, DEMZ is up 14.39% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, DEMZ compounded at +22.93% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.70% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, DEMZ has the edge at +16.70% annualized vs +16.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEMZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 14.8% 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 -27.2% for DEMZ and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEMZ charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEMZ currently yields 0.86% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.5% of DEMZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.2% of SPY's money is in holdings DEMZ also owns.
Most of DEMZ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
42 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in DEMZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 129 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 454 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DEMZ (65.9% of the fund), and 0 for DEMZ that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 DEMZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.07% | 7.78% | 2.71% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.72% | 7.45% | 2.73% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.96% | 5.71% | 0.75% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 4.69% | 3.12% | 1.57% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 5.78% | 0.52% | 5.26% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.84% | 2.22% | 1.62% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.35% | 1.22% | 3.13% |
| KLACKla-tencor | 4.57% | 0.34% | 4.23% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 3.94% | 0.62% | 3.32% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 4.21% | 0.29% | 3.92% |
99.5% of DEMZ 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, DEMZ or SPY?
DEMZ has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEMZ or SPY?
Over the past year DEMZ returned +18.24% vs +17.47% for SPY, so DEMZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), DEMZ annualized +16.70% vs +16.45% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEMZ or SPY?
DEMZ has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DEMZ -27.2% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both DEMZ and SPY?
DEMZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 DEMZ and SPY?
99.5% of DEMZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 33.2% of SPY's is in holdings DEMZ also owns. They hold 42 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in DEMZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DEMZ or SPY?
DEMZ yields 0.86% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DEMZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEMZ led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.