SPY vs SSMG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus Silvant Small/Mid Growth ETF
Which is better, SPY or SSMG?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SSMG is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | SPY | SSMG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $3M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 168 |
| YTD Return | +13.53%Best | -3.72% |
| 1Y Return | +17.47% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2% | 25.6%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 21, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SPY vs SSMG 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.
SPY vs SSMG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Virtus Silvant Small/Mid Growth ETF (SSMG) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a loss of 3.72% for SSMG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SSMG charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $39 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 0.00% for SSMG.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings SSMG also owns. 3.9% of SSMG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
SSMG and SPY share little of their money.
5 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 84 in SSMG, against full books of 1,515 and 168.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 73 positions for SSMG that do not appear in our book for SPY (84.9% of the fund), and 491 for SPY that do not appear in SSMG (98.9%).
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 SPY and SSMG 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, SPY or SSMG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SSMG charges 0.39%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and SSMG?
3.9% of SSMG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.9% of SSMG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 5 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 84 in SSMG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SSMG?
SPY yields 0.99% while SSMG yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SSMG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SSMG is less concentrated, with 25.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.