SPYM vs USMC
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF vs Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF
Which is better, SPYM or USMC?
Nearly the same fund. SPYM costs less.
SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM led over 1Y and 3Y, USMC over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SPYM is less concentrated, with 39.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%.
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 | SPYM | USMC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.12% |
| AUM | $185.2B | $5.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.74% |
| Holdings | 509 | 58 |
| YTD Return | +13.57% | +13.98%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.53%Best | +14.91% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.46%Best | +22.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.29% | +14.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.3% | -30.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,662 | $19,948Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.0%Best | 55.3% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Principal Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 8, 2005 | Oct 11, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2017 to Oct 14, 2026 (9 years).
SPYM vs USMC 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 9 years both funds cover.
SPYM vs USMC Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Principal U.S. Mega-Cap ETF (USMC) is an ETF from Principal Funds. Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% while USMC returned +14.91%. Year to date, SPYM is up 13.57% versus a gain of 13.98% for USMC.
Over three years, SPYM compounded at +22.46% per year against +22.22% for USMC; over five years the annualized figures are +13.29% and +14.81% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, USMC has the edge at +14.29% annualized vs +14.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPYM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 15.3% for USMC. 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 -34.3% for SPYM and -30.0% for USMC. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPYM charges 0.02% per year while USMC charges 0.12%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $12 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPYM currently yields 1.01% against 0.74% for USMC.
Holdings Overlap
49.8% of SPYM's money is in holdings USMC also owns. 99.7% of USMC's money is in holdings SPYM also owns.
Most of USMC is already inside SPYM. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
26 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in SPYM and 27 in USMC, against full books of 509 and 58.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for USMC that do not appear in our book for SPYM (0.2% of the fund), and 472 for SPYM that do not appear in USMC (49.5%).
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 SPYM | Weight in USMC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 8.49% | 7.99% | 0.50% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.30% | 7.40% | 0.10% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 5.55% | 0.21% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.82% | 7.18% | 5.36% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 3.02% | 5.33% | 2.31% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.70% | 3.77% | 0.07% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.53% | 4.44% | 1.91% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.41% | 3.92% | 1.51% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.32% | 4.65% | 3.33% |
| VVisa Inc-class A Shares | 0.92% | 4.54% | 3.62% |
99.7% of USMC is already inside SPYM.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPYM or USMC?
SPYM has an expense ratio of 0.02% while USMC charges 0.12%. SPYM is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPYM or USMC?
Over the past year SPYM returned +17.53% vs +14.91% for USMC, so SPYM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SPYM annualized +14.10% vs +14.29% for USMC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPYM or USMC?
SPYM has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 15.3% for USMC. Worst drawdown: SPYM -34.3% vs USMC -30.0%.
Should I hold both SPYM and USMC?
SPYM and USMC have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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 SPYM and USMC?
99.7% of USMC's money is in holdings SPYM also owns. 99.7% of USMC's is in holdings SPYM also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 505 positions we hold weights for in SPYM and 27 in USMC.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPYM or USMC?
SPYM yields 1.01% while USMC yields 0.74%, so SPYM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USMC better than SPYM?
SPYM has a lower expense ratio. SPYM led over 1Y and 3Y, USMC over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SPYM is less concentrated, with 39.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.