SPY vs SSXU
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Day Hagan Smart Sector International ETF
Which is better, SPY or SSXU?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 80.9%.
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 | SSXU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.19% |
| AUM | $823.2B | $44M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 2.57% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 34 |
| YTD Return | +13.53%Best | +0.02% |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +5.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36%Best | +12.46% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -13.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $21,396Best | $15,136 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2%Best | 80.9% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Day Hagan Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jul 1, 2022 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 1, 2022 to Oct 14, 2026 (4.3 years).
SPY vs SSXU 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
SPY vs SSXU Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Day Hagan Smart Sector International ETF (SSXU) is an ETF from Day Hagan Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while SSXU returned +5.29%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 0.02% for SSXU.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.36% per year against +12.46% for SSXU. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +19.35% annualized vs +10.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 13.5% for SSXU. 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 -18.8% for SPY and -13.9% for SSXU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while SSXU charges 1.19%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $119 annually, a gap of $110 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 2.57% for SSXU.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 17 in SSXU, totalling 99.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 17 in SSXU, against full books of 1,515 and 34.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 16 positions for SSXU that do not appear in our book for SPY (96.9% of the fund), and 496 for SPY that do not appear in SSXU (99.1%).
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 SSXU 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 SSXU?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SSXU charges 1.19%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $110 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or SSXU?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +5.29% for SSXU, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SPY annualized +19.35% vs +10.12% for SSXU. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or SSXU?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 13.5% for SSXU. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs SSXU -13.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and SSXU?
SPY and SSXU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or SSXU?
SPY yields 0.99% while SSXU yields 2.57%, so SSXU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SSXU better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 80.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.