MDY vs XLV
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust vs State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to mid-cap U.S. companies balancing growth potential and stability. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.24%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.15%. Launched in 1995, the fund has a 31-year track record.
State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) is an exchange-traded fund issued by State Street that provides exposure to us sector - healthcare securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.70%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLV is significantly cheaper at 0.09% vs 0.24% expense ratio, saving you approximately $296 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, MDY has significantly outperformed with a 13.9% return vs 2.2%. Income investors may prefer XLV for its higher yield (1.7% vs 1.1%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
MDY Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Ciena Corp | 102.57% |
| Coherent Corp | 90.18% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc | 81.25% |
| Flex Ltd | 69.47% |
| Twilio Inc | 67.05% |
| United Therapeutics Corp | 65.23% |
| Pure Storage Inc | 65.05% |
| Casey's General Stores Inc | 63.89% |
| Curtiss-Wright Corp | 63.20% |
| Illumina Inc | 62.31% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLV if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose MDY if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose XLV if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.