FCOM vs SPY
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FCOM or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
FCOM has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%.
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 | FCOM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $1.8B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.94% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 91 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -0.55% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.44% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.85% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.94% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,986 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.2% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 24, 2013 to Oct 14, 2026 (13 years).
FCOM 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 13 years both funds cover.
FCOM vs SPY Performance
Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM) is an ETF from Fidelity Investments (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FCOM returned +4.44% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, FCOM is down 0.55% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, FCOM compounded at +21.85% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.94% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.75% annualized vs +8.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FCOM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 14.5% 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 -46.8% for FCOM and -34.1% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FCOM charges 0.08% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $9 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FCOM currently yields 0.94% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
83.9% of FCOM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.1% of SPY's money is in holdings FCOM also owns.
Most of FCOM is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
23 positions in common, counted across the 90 positions we hold weights for in FCOM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 91 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 473 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FCOM (89.0% of the fund), and 62 for FCOM that do not appear in SPY (15.3%).
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 FCOM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| METAMeta Platforms Inc Class A | 25.78% | 2.22% | 23.56% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cl A | 14.08% | 3.12% | 10.96% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc Cl C | 7.77% | 2.49% | 5.28% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 4.19% | 0.29% | 3.90% |
| TAt+T Inc | 4.15% | 0.28% | 3.87% |
| VZVerizon Communications, Inc. | 4.08% | 0.33% | 3.75% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc | 3.67% | 0.51% | 3.16% |
| WBDWarner Bros Discovery Inc | 2.85% | 0.11% | 2.74% |
| TMUST MOBILE US INC | 2.53% | 0.13% | 2.40% |
| CMCSACOMCAST CORP CLASS A | 2.49% | 0.14% | 2.35% |
83.9% of FCOM 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, FCOM or SPY?
FCOM has an expense ratio of 0.08% while SPY charges 0.09%. FCOM is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FCOM or SPY?
Over the past year FCOM returned +4.44% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), FCOM annualized +8.86% vs +12.75% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FCOM or SPY?
FCOM has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FCOM -46.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both FCOM and SPY?
FCOM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 FCOM and SPY?
83.9% of FCOM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.1% of SPY's is in holdings FCOM also owns. They hold 23 positions in common, counted across the 90 positions we hold weights for in FCOM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FCOM or SPY?
FCOM yields 0.94% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FCOM?
FCOM has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.