
The S&P 500 is a widely followed stock market index that represents the market value of 500 large, publicly traded companies in the US.
It's calculated and maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices, a leading global index provider.
The S&P 500 is a market-capitalization-weighted index, which means that the companies with the largest market capitalization have a greater influence on the index's performance.
Market-capitalization-weighted indexes aim to reflect the overall performance of the stock market, but they can be heavily influenced by the largest companies.
What Are Index Funds Tracking S&P 500?
Index funds tracking the S&P 500 are a great option for investors looking for a low-cost way to invest in the stock market. They're essentially a basket of stocks that mirror the performance of the S&P 500 index.
These funds are known for keeping more of your investment profits in your pocket, thanks to their low fees. This is because they're passive investments, meaning they don't try to beat the market, but rather follow its performance over the long term.
The S&P 500 index is made up of 500 of the most profitable companies in the US, selected based on strict criteria such as market capitalization and earnings.
About This Benchmark
The S&P 500 Index is a gauge of large-cap U.S. equities. It's composed of roughly five hundred selected stocks, all listed on national stock exchanges and spanning over approximately 24 separate industry groups.
The S&P 500 Index has a long history, dating back to its inception on December 30, 1992.
To be included in the S&P 500, a company must meet strict criteria. This includes having an $18 billion market capitalization and a positive sum of its past four quarters' earnings.
Investing in Top U.S. Profitable Companies
The S&P 500 index is made up of 500 of the most profitable companies in the U.S., selected based on stringent listing criteria. Each company must have an $18 billion market capitalization and a positive sum of its past four quarters' earnings.
The largest holdings in the S&P 500 include Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Google parent company, Alphabet. These companies are household names and leaders in their respective industries.
The S&P 500 has a solid history of recovering from market downturns, with a 20-year investment never resulting in a loss in the index's history. Over the long term, the index has always bounced back.
Here are some of the top companies in the S&P 500, listed alphabetically:
These companies are subject to the same market fluctuations as the S&P 500, but by investing in the index, you'll have exposure to a diversified portfolio of top U.S. companies.
Key Features and Benefits
Index funds tracking the S&P 500 have gained popularity over the past decade, with passive funds often outperforming their active counterparts for a lower cost.
The S&P 500 is widely considered a barometer of the U.S. large-cap equity market, making it a crucial benchmark to track.
Investors have several options to choose from, including index funds offered by Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and State Street.
State Street offers a viable ETF option that tracks the performance of the S&P 500, providing investors with a range of choices to suit their needs.
Here are some key facts about index funds tracking the S&P 500:
- The State Street S&P 500 Index Fund seeks to replicate the total return of the S&P 500 Index.
- Among index investors, the S&P 500 has been the most widely watched benchmark index to track.
Key Features
The State Street S&P 500 Index Fund is designed to replicate the total return of the S&P 500 Index.
Index investing has been gaining momentum over the past decade, with passive funds often outperforming their active counterparts for a lower cost. This is particularly true when it comes to the S&P 500, which has been the most widely watched benchmark index to track.
The S&P 500 is widely considered a barometer of the U.S. large-cap equity market, making it a great option for investors looking to track the performance of the overall market.
Here are some notable index funds offered by reputable companies:
The Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares has an expense ratio of just 0.04%, making it an attractive option for investors looking to minimize costs.
Mutual Funds: Differences
Mutual funds pool investors' money to buy many different securities, but they have some key differences compared to index funds.
Mutual funds have a fund manager who actively selects the securities to buy and sell, trying to beat the market's performance. This approach can be riskier and more expensive than index funds.

Mutual funds often come with higher fees than index funds, which can eat into your investment returns. These fees can range from 0.5% to 2% or more of your investment each year.
Mutual funds can be actively traded, allowing you to buy and sell shares throughout the day. This can be beneficial if you want to quickly move in and out of the market.
Exposure Breakdowns
Our tool provides a detailed breakdown of the exposure to each risk factor, making it easier to identify areas that need improvement.
This breakdown is based on the user's input, including their location, lifestyle, and medical history.
The exposure breakdown is calculated using a proprietary algorithm that takes into account various factors, including UV radiation, pollution levels, and water quality.
For example, if a user lives in a city with high levels of air pollution, the exposure breakdown will highlight this as a risk factor.

The tool also provides a comparison feature, allowing users to see how their exposure levels compare to others in their area.
This comparison can be a useful benchmark for identifying areas of improvement and tracking progress over time.
By providing a clear and actionable view of exposure levels, our tool empowers users to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Lowest Cost Fidelity
If you're looking for the lowest cost Fidelity index fund, the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) is the way to go. It has an expense ratio of 0.015%, which is significantly lower than many other index funds.
This fund has a long history, with an inception date of February 17, 1988. It's also extremely liquid, with a massive $373.8 billion in assets under management.
Here are some key facts about the Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX):
- Expense Ratio: 0.015%
- 2022 Return: -18.13%
- Yield: 1.33%
- Assets Under Management (AUM): $373.8 billion
- Minimum Investment: $0
- Inception Date: Feb. 17, 1988 (Share Class Inception Date: May 4, 2011)
- Issuing Company: Fidelity
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Alternatives
The SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is a popular choice for those looking to track the S&P 500 index. It's the most liquid S&P 500 fund, making it a great option for frequent trading.
SPY has a low expense ratio of 0.09%, which is a significant advantage over other index funds. This means you'll save money on fees, which can add up over time.
Its 2022 return was a impressive 18.14%, outpacing many other index funds. This makes it a solid choice for long-term investors.
Here's a comparison of SPY with some of its alternatives:
Note that the expense ratios, 2022 returns, and AUM for these alternative funds are not specified in the provided article section facts.
ETF Comparison and Analysis
If you're looking for the best S&P 500 ETF, the Amundi S&P 500 II UCITS ETF EUR Dist takes the top spot with a 1-year fund return of 33.49%.
The cheapest S&P 500 ETF by total expense ratio is a tie between SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (Acc) and SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (Dist), both with a 0.03% p.a. expense ratio. This means you'll save even more money by investing in these ETFs.
To give you a better idea of the S&P 500 ETFs available, here's a list of the top 5 ETFs by fund size:
This table shows you the top 5 ETFs by fund size, with the iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD (Acc) taking the lead with a massive 105,778 million EUR in assets.
Investment Options and Fees
Investment options for tracking the S&P 500 are abundant, but some stand out for their accessibility and low fees. Fidelity and Schwab offer their index funds with no minimum investment, making them perfect for beginning investors. Vanguard has a relatively low minimum investment of $3,000.
The fees associated with these index funds are another important consideration. S&P 500 index funds are low-cost investments, with fees that eat away at your returns much less than active managers. This means that you'll keep more of your investment profits in your pocket.
Here are some key fee facts to keep in mind:
The cheapest S&P 500 ETF by total expense ratio is the SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (Acc), with an expense ratio of 0.03% p.a.
Keep More of Your Investment Profits
S&P 500 index funds are a low-cost investment option. Their fees are significantly lower than those of active managers, which means you get to keep more of your investment profits.
Active managers may match or even beat the market's performance over time, but their fees eat away at your returns. This is a crucial consideration when choosing an investment option.
Passive investments like S&P 500 index funds deliver returns that mirror the index's returns over the long term. This means you can expect consistent returns without the high fees associated with active management.
By choosing low-cost index funds, you can keep more of your investment profits in your pocket.
Three Best Investment Options
When choosing an investment option, it's essential to consider fees and accessibility. Fidelity and Schwab offer their index funds with no minimum investment, making them very accessible to beginning investors.
Vanguard has a relatively low minimum investment of $3,000. This can be a significant hurdle for some, but it's still a lower barrier than many other investment options.
Fidelity and Schwab's no-minimum investment policy can be a huge advantage for those just starting out. It allows individuals to dip their toes into the world of investing without breaking the bank.
Fees
Fees can eat away at your investment returns, but some investment options are more cost-effective than others. The S&P 500 index fund is a low-cost investment with fees that are relatively low.
The gross expense ratio of the S&P 500 index fund is 0.10%, which is the same as the net expense ratio. This means that the fund's management fees are already factored into the net expense ratio. Acquired fund fees and expenses are 0.00%, and interest expense is also 0.00%.
One way to compare the fees of different investment options is to look at their total expense ratios. The SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (Acc) has a total expense ratio of 0.03% p.a., making it one of the cheapest S&P 500 ETFs available.
Here's a comparison of the total expense ratios of different S&P 500 ETFs:
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) has a low expense ratio of 0.03%, making it a cost-effective option for investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real S&P 500 Index Fund?
The S&P 500 Index Fund is a type of investment fund that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index, providing broad exposure to the US stock market. It's a low-cost way to own a small piece of America's largest and most successful companies.
How many funds are in the S&P 500?
The S&P 500 tracks the performance of 500 large companies, not funds. It's an index of stocks, not a collection of investment funds.
What if I invested $1000 in S&P 500 10 years ago?
Investing $1,000 in the S&P 500 10 years ago would have grown your money to around $3,300. This impressive return shows the potential of long-term investing in a relatively low-risk asset.
Sources
- https://www.ssga.com/us/en/institutional/mf/state-street-sp-500-index-fund-class-n-svspx
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/101415/4-best-sp-500-index-funds.asp
- https://www.justetf.com/en/how-to/sp-500-etfs.html
- https://www.fool.com/investing/how-to-invest/index-funds/best-sp-500-index-funds/
- https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual/products/251378/blackrock-s-p-500-stock-fundinstl-class-fund
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