SEA vs SPY
US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SEA or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEA led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.8%.
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 | SEA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $20M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.77% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 103 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +48.80%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +61.57%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.87%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.4% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.5% | -22.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $17,636 | $18,284Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 47.8% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | ETF Series Solutions | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 19, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 20, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.7 years).
SEA 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
SEA vs SPY Performance
US Global Sea to Sky Cargo ETF (SEA) is an ETF from ETF Series Solutions and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SEA returned +61.57% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, SEA is up 48.80% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, SEA compounded at +25.87% per year against +22.36% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.4% compared with 15.5% 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 -39.5% for SEA and -22.1% 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SEA charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SEA currently yields 4.77% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
8.1% of SEA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings SEA also owns.
SEA and SPY share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in SEA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 103 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SEA (98.8% of the fund), and 7 for SEA that do not appear in SPY (24.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SEA 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, SEA or SPY?
SEA has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SEA or SPY?
Over the past year SEA returned +61.57% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SEA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SEA or SPY?
SEA has been the more volatile fund at 24.4% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SEA -39.5% vs SPY -22.1%.
Should I hold both SEA and SPY?
SEA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 SEA and SPY?
8.1% of SEA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's is in holdings SEA also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in SEA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SEA or SPY?
SEA yields 4.77% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SEA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SEA led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.