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SLYG vs SPSM

State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

SLYGBNYSE Arca

State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

SPSMANYSE Arca

Overlap

Expense ratio

SPSM −0.12pt a year

SLYG0.15%SPSM0.03%

Avg volume · 30D

SPSM 11.9×the volume

SLYG144KSPSM1.72M

10Y return · a year

SLYG +0.2pt

SLYG+10.8%SPSM+10.6%

SLYG vs SPSM Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+27.7%SLYG+34.7%SPSM

Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. SLYG +27.7%. SPSM +34.7%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−20%−10%0%10%Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 2026
Expense ratio
SLYG 0.15%
SPSM 0.03%, better
Fund size
SLYG $4.77B
SPSM $16.2B
1Y total return
SLYG +18.9%
SPSM +20.7%, better
Yield (12M)
SLYG 0.71%
SPSM 1.51%, better
Holdings
SLYG 350
SPSM 607
Avg volume (30D)
SLYG 144K sh
SPSM 1.72M sh, better
NAV per share
SLYG $111.51
SPSM $55.20
52W range

ETF.net Grade

SLYG: Cost 58, Risk 48, Mission 84, Tradability 69, Holdings 53, Durability 66. SPSM: Cost 98, Risk 50, Mission 84, Tradability 93, Holdings 86, Durability 77.
Pillar letters and Scores for SLYG, SPSM, with each pillar’s weight
PillarSLYGSPSM
Cost30% weightB58A98Higher
Mission25% weightA84A84
Risk15% weightC48C50Higher
Tradability15% weightB69A93Higher
Holdings10% weightC53A86Higher
Durability5% weightB66A77Higher

Rank among S&P SmallCap 600 funds

Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. SLYG and SPSM are both graded against the same 13 S&P SmallCap 600 funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

S&P SmallCap 600⁠

Category · 13 funds
See all 13 ›

SPSM ranks 1st and SLYG 5th of 13 funds in the S&P SmallCap 600 Category.

  1. Rank 1ASPSMState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETFScore 84
  2. Rank 2AIJRiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETFScore 79
  3. Rank 4BVIOGVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETFScore 66
  4. Rank 5BSLYGState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETFScore 64
  5. Rank 6BIJTiShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Growth ETFScore 63

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

SLYGBState Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF

SPSMAState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF

In short

SLYG Live since 2000, SLYG splits the S&P SmallCap 600 in two and keeps the growth half: roughly 400 small companies screened on growth and momentum. An old, plain wrapper around a sharp style tilt.

SPSM The bargain-rack version of a small-cap classic. SPSM tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 for 0.03% a year, one of the thinnest fees in US equities, and holds roughly 600 smaller American companies.

Stated mandate

SLYG The fund seeks to deliver, before fees and expenses, total returns that generally correspond to the S&P SmallCap 600 Growth Index.

SPSM The fund seeks to track, before fees and expenses, the total return performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

Why people hold it

  • SLYG Running since 2000 and now a multi-billion-dollar fund: one of the original ways to own the growth half of the S&P SmallCap 600.
  • Cheap for a style fund at 0.15%, under the 0.18% median of its S&P 600 peer group, and the portfolio hews closely to its index rather than drifting.
  • Roughly 400 stocks, cash paid quarterly, and a matching value sibling (SLYV) for the other half of the same index family.
  • SPSM Three ETFs wrap this same index. SPSM charges 0.03%, IJR 0.06%, VIOO 0.07%. Same basket, thinner fee drag.
  • Its fee sits far below the typical charge among S&P 600 wrappers, and cost is the one variable an index investor actually controls.
  • Roughly 600 US small caps in a single line item, held straight to the index. No single name carries the fund.
  • One of the strongest implementations in its peer group: tight index tracking, active trading, and a multi-billion-dollar asset base behind it.

Worth knowing

  • SLYG Vanguard's VIOG tracks the same declared index for 0.10%. Same shopping list, lower sticker.
  • Growth is half the S&P 600 by construction, so it behaves differently from full-index funds like SPSM and IJR, and sits at the jumpier end of small caps.
  • Moderately traded rather than a firehose. The broad S&P 600 funds see heavier volume, which can show up in spreads on big or hurried orders.
  • SPSM Small-cap prices swing wider than large-cap ones. This fund takes the index as it comes, with no volatility cushion built in.
  • All US, all stocks. Nothing here diversifies away from the domestic economy.
  • Income is a byproduct, not the mission: cash goes out quarterly and varies with what the underlying companies pay.

Full SLYG profile⁠

Full SPSM profile⁠

SLYG vs SPSM Holdings

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

SLYG vs SPSM Cost

Overpaying SLYG vs SPSM

$2,499

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

  • SLYG 0.15%

    $3,137

  • SPSM 0.03%

    $638

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • SLYG 0.15%
  • SPSM 0.03%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$1K$2K$3K$4K051015202530SLYG $3,137SPSM $638

Year by year

YearSLYGSPSMOverpaying
10$274$55$219
20$1,071$216$855
30$3,137$638$2,499

Expense ratio

  • 0.15%SLYG
  • 0.03%SPSM, cheaper
  • Middle half of S&P SmallCap 600 funds
  • Median 0.15%

SPSM cheapest of 13 funds

SLYG 5th cheapest of 13 funds

SLYG vs SPSM Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026
Yield (12M)
SLYG 0.71%
SPSM 1.51%, better
Payout (12M)
SLYG $0.78
SPSM $0.82
Last payment
SLYG $0.25
SPSM $0.22
Ex-dividend
SLYG Sep 21, 2026
SPSM Sep 21, 2026
Paid on
SLYG Sep 23, 2026
SPSM Sep 23, 2026
Frequency
SLYG Quarterly
SPSM Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

SLYGQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll SLYG payments⁠
One bar per payment. 39 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Mar 17, 2017 $0.08; Jun 16, 2017 $0.15; Sep 15, 2017 $0.14; Dec 15, 2017 $2.33; Mar 19, 2018 $0.11; Jun 18, 2018 $0.13; Sep 24, 2018 $0.14; Dec 24, 2018 $0.19; Mar 18, 2019 $0.12; Jun 24, 2019 $0.18; Sep 23, 2019 $0.17; Dec 23, 2019 $0.23; Mar 23, 2020 $0.12; Jun 22, 2020 $0.14; Sep 21, 2020 $0.05; Dec 21, 2020 $0.23; Mar 22, 2021 $0.08; Jun 21, 2021 $0.13; Sep 20, 2021 $0.17; Dec 20, 2021 $0.24; Mar 21, 2022 $0.14; Jun 21, 2022 $0.23; Sep 19, 2022 $0.20; Dec 19, 2022 $0.29; Mar 20, 2023 $0.20; Jun 20, 2023 $0.28; Sep 18, 2023 $0.23; Dec 18, 2023 $0.27; Mar 18, 2024 $0.18; Jun 24, 2024 $0.25; Sep 23, 2024 $0.29; Dec 23, 2024 $0.37; Mar 24, 2025 $0.22; Jun 23, 2025 $0.24; Sep 22, 2025 $0.23; Dec 22, 2025 $0.12; Mar 23, 2026 $0.18; Jun 22, 2026 $0.23; Sep 21, 2026 $0.25. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$2.502017202020232026YTD
SPSMQuarterly · 40 paymentsAll SPSM payments⁠
One bar per payment. 40 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Mar 17, 2017 $0.08; Jun 16, 2017 $0.10; Sep 15, 2017 $0.09; Dec 15, 2017 $0.19; Mar 16, 2018 $0.05; Jun 15, 2018 $0.13; Sep 21, 2018 $0.14; Dec 21, 2018 $0.16; Mar 15, 2019 $0.10; Jun 21, 2019 $0.13; Sep 20, 2019 $0.12; Dec 20, 2019 $0.16; Mar 23, 2020 $0.10; Jun 22, 2020 $0.11; Sep 21, 2020 $0.06; Dec 21, 2020 $0.15; Mar 22, 2021 $0.11; Jun 21, 2021 $0.12; Sep 20, 2021 $0.13; Dec 20, 2021 $0.27; Mar 21, 2022 $0.06; Jun 21, 2022 $0.15; Sep 19, 2022 $0.15; Dec 19, 2022 $0.15; Mar 20, 2023 $0.13; Jun 6, 2023 $0.16; Jun 20, 2023 $0.03; Sep 18, 2023 $0.06; Dec 18, 2023 $0.30; Mar 18, 2024 $0.14; Jun 24, 2024 $0.21; Sep 23, 2024 $0.20; Dec 23, 2024 $0.28; Mar 24, 2025 $0.15; Jun 23, 2025 $0.18; Sep 22, 2025 $0.18; Dec 22, 2025 $0.24; Mar 23, 2026 $0.17; Jun 22, 2026 $0.20; Sep 21, 2026 $0.22. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$2.502017202020232026YTD

SLYG vs SPSM Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • SLYG
  • SPSM
Oct 29, 2021 to Oct 30, 2026. Worst fall: SLYG −29.2% · Jun 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−30%−20%−10%0%Oct 2021Apr 2024Oct 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
SLYG 19.0%SPSM 18.7%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
SLYG 0.71SPSM 0.76, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
SLYG −29.2%SPSM −27.9%, better
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
SLYG 1.06SPSM 1.04

SLYG and SPSM in the news

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