EMKT vs SPY
Lazard Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EMKT or SPY?
EMKT has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EMKT led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%.
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 | EMKT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.74% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | - | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 430 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +17.67%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +19.25%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.9% | 13.1%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.0% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Lazard Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 24, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
EMKT 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.
EMKT vs SPY Performance
Lazard Emerging Markets Opportunities ETF (EMKT) is an ETF from Lazard Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EMKT returned +19.25% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, EMKT is up 17.67% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMKT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMKT charges 0.74% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $74 vs $9 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMKT currently yields 0.45% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 213 holdings in EMKT and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% 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 213 positions we hold weights for in EMKT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 430 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EMKT (99.1% of the fund), and 2 for EMKT that do not appear in SPY (0.6%).
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 EMKT 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, EMKT or SPY?
EMKT has an expense ratio of 0.74% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMKT or SPY?
Over the past year EMKT returned +19.25% vs +17.47% for SPY, so EMKT leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMKT or SPY?
EMKT has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 13.1% for SPY.
Should I hold both EMKT and SPY?
EMKT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMKT or SPY?
EMKT yields 0.45% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EMKT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EMKT led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.