FRTY vs SPY
Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FRTY or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | FRTY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $151M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.17% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 43 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +4.13% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.01% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.26% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.02% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.9% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.1% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,990 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | Alger | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 1, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.6 years).
FRTY 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 5.6 years both funds cover.
FRTY vs SPY Performance
Alger Mid Cap 40 ETF (FRTY) is an ETF from Alger and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FRTY returned -2.01% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, FRTY is up 4.13% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, FRTY compounded at +22.26% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -0.02% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.43% annualized vs +2.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FRTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.9% compared with 15.2% 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 -53.1% for FRTY 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FRTY charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FRTY currently yields 0.17% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings FRTY also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FRTY, our book for it covers 90.9% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and FRTY share little of their money.
12 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in FRTY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 43 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FRTY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNPSSynopsys | 3.49% | 0.11% | 3.38% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 3.14% | 0.08% | 3.06% |
| MPWRMonolithic Power Systems Inc | 3.04% | 0.09% | 2.95% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 2.50% | 0.05% | 2.45% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 2.31% | 0.14% | 2.17% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc | 2.30% | 0.12% | 2.18% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 2.12% | 0.06% | 2.06% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 1.90% | 0.06% | 1.84% |
| WSTWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc | 1.77% | 0.04% | 1.73% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 1.19% | 0.29% | 0.90% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FRTY 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, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FRTY or SPY?
Over the past year FRTY returned -2.01% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), FRTY annualized +2.43% vs +14.43% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY has been the more volatile fund at 22.9% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FRTY -53.1% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both FRTY and SPY?
FRTY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 FRTY and SPY?
At least 1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings FRTY also owns. Our book for FRTY is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in FRTY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FRTY or SPY?
FRTY yields 0.17% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FRTY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.