RFDA vs SSPY
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF vs Stratified LargeCap Index ETF
Which is better, RFDA or SSPY?
RFDA has been ahead.
SSPY has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. SSPY is less concentrated, with 8.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.6%.
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 | RFDA | SSPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.45%Best |
| AUM | $77M | $129M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.00% | 1.25% |
| Holdings | 77 | 1,013 |
| YTD Return | +14.73%Best | +12.63% |
| 1Y Return | +16.68%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.07%Best | +15.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.87%Best | +8.93% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9%Best | 16.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.8%Best | -36.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,319Best | $15,337 |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.6% | 8.9%Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Syntax Stratified |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jun 6, 2016 | Jan 2, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 2019 to Oct 14, 2026 (7.8 years).
RFDA vs SSPY 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 7.8 years both funds cover.
RFDA vs SSPY Performance
ALPS Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF (RFDA) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Stratified LargeCap Index ETF (SSPY) is an ETF from Syntax Stratified. Over the past year RFDA returned +16.68% while SSPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, RFDA is up 14.73% versus a gain of 12.63% for SSPY.
Over three years, RFDA compounded at +20.07% per year against +15.71% for SSPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.87% and +8.93% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, RFDA has the edge at +14.56% annualized vs +13.36%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SSPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.9% for RFDA. 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 -34.8% for RFDA and -36.7% for SSPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFDA charges 0.52% per year while SSPY charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $45 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFDA currently yields 2.00% against 1.25% for SSPY.
Holdings Overlap
82.0% of RFDA's money is in holdings SSPY also owns. 16.9% of SSPY's money is in holdings RFDA also owns.
Most of RFDA is already inside SSPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
61 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 504 in SSPY, against full books of 77 and 1,013.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for SSPY that do not appear in our book for RFDA (81.5% of the fund), and 11 for RFDA that do not appear in SSPY (14.5%).
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 RFDA | Weight in SSPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.68% | 1.29% | 1.39% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.52% | 0.12% | 3.40% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 3.15% | 0.30% | 2.85% |
| UNHUnited Healthcare Corp. | 2.76% | 0.38% | 2.38% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.96% | 0.15% | 2.81% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.62% | 0.47% | 2.15% |
| KOCoca-Cola Co/The | 2.53% | 0.27% | 2.26% |
| CCitigroup, Inc. | 2.58% | 0.13% | 2.45% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.07% | 0.58% | 1.49% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.06% | 0.58% | 1.48% |
82.0% of RFDA is already inside SSPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RFDA or SSPY?
RFDA has an expense ratio of 0.52% while SSPY charges 0.45%. SSPY is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFDA or SSPY?
Over the past year RFDA returned +16.68% vs +15.52% for SSPY, so RFDA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), RFDA annualized +14.56% vs +13.36% for SSPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFDA or SSPY?
SSPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.9% for RFDA. Worst drawdown: RFDA -34.8% vs SSPY -36.7%.
Should I hold both RFDA and SSPY?
RFDA and SSPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 RFDA and SSPY?
82.0% of RFDA's money is in holdings SSPY also owns. 16.9% of SSPY's is in holdings RFDA also owns. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 75 positions we hold weights for in RFDA and 504 in SSPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, RFDA or SSPY?
RFDA yields 2.00% while SSPY yields 1.25%, so RFDA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SSPY better than RFDA?
SSPY has a lower expense ratio. RFDA led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. SSPY is less concentrated, with 8.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 30.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.