SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM): Complete Beginner's Guide
SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM) is a us total market ETF from State Street with an expense ratio of 0.03% and $10.0B in assets under management. Our Beginner Suitability Score: 9/10 (Great for Beginners). 5-year annualized return: 13.00%.
Last updated: April 2026
State Street • US Total Market
Expense Ratio
0.03%
AUM
$10.0B
Dividend Yield
1.40%
Inception
2000
Beginner Score
9/10
What is SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF?
SPTM tracks the S&P Composite 1500 Index, which combines the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600 into one fund covering the full range of U.S. stock market capitalization. It offers near-total market coverage at an ultra-low cost, with the added benefit of S&P's profitability screening across all size segments. This is a one-stop shop for U.S. stock exposure.
SPTM is managed by State Street and has been available since 2000. With $10.0B in assets under management, it's a well-established fund with strong institutional backing. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.03%, which means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $3 per year in management fees.
SPTM at a Glance — Key Metrics
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% |
| Total Holdings | 1,500 |
| P/E Ratio | 24.0 |
| Beta | 1.01 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% |
| AUM | $10.0B |
| Inception Year | 2000 |
| Issuer | State Street |
Top 10 Holdings in SPTM
SPTM holds 1,500 different securities. Here are the largest positions that make up the core of this fund:
| # | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | AAPL | 6.50% |
| 2 | Microsoft | MSFT | 6.00% |
| 3 | NVIDIA | NVDA | 5.50% |
| 4 | Amazon | AMZN | 3.50% |
| 5 | Meta Platforms | META | 2.50% |
| 6 | Alphabet Class A | GOOGL | 2.10% |
| 7 | Berkshire Hathaway | BRK.B | 1.90% |
| 8 | Alphabet Class C | GOOG | 1.80% |
| 9 | Broadcom | AVGO | 1.70% |
| 10 | Tesla | TSLA | 1.50% |
SPTM's top holding is Apple (AAPL) at 6.50%, followed by Microsoft (MSFT) at 6.00% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 5.50%. The top 10 holdings account for 33.00% of the fund's 1,500 total positions.
View data table
| Rank | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | AAPL | 6.50% |
| 2 | Microsoft | MSFT | 6.00% |
| 3 | NVIDIA | NVDA | 5.50% |
| 4 | Amazon | AMZN | 3.50% |
| 5 | Meta Platforms | META | 2.50% |
| 6 | Alphabet Class A | GOOGL | 2.10% |
| 7 | Berkshire Hathaway | BRK.B | 1.90% |
| 8 | Alphabet Class C | GOOG | 1.80% |
| 9 | Broadcom | AVGO | 1.70% |
| 10 | Tesla | TSLA | 1.50% |
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SPTM Performance History
Here's how SPTM has performed over different time periods. Remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but it gives you a sense of the fund's track record:
YTD
3.00%
1 Year
20.00%
3 Year
9.50%
5 Year
13.00%
10 Year
11.50%
SPTM has returned 13.00% annualized over 5 years and 11.50% over 10 years. YTD return is 3.00%.
View data table
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| YTD | 3.00% |
| 1 Year | 20.00% |
| 3 Year | 9.50% |
| 5 Year | 13.00% |
| 10 Year | 11.50% |
Beginner Suitability Score: 9/10
Our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score evaluates ETFs based on five factors that matter most to new investors: fees, volatility, diversification, dividend history, and track record length.
SPTM scores 9/10 because it has very low fees, can be more volatile than the broader market, offers broad diversification across 1,500 holdings, and has been available since 2000, giving it a proven track record.
How to Buy SPTM — Step by Step
- Open a brokerage account — We recommend Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard for ETF investing. All offer $0 commissions on ETF trades.
- Fund your account — Transfer money from your bank. You can start with as little as $1 if your broker offers fractional shares.
- Search for "SPTM" — Use the search bar in your brokerage platform to find SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF.
- Place your order — Choose "Market Order" for simplicity or "Limit Order" if you want to set a specific price. Enter how many shares (or dollar amount) you want to buy.
- Set up automatic investing — Most brokers let you schedule recurring purchases (e.g., $100/month on the 1st). This is dollar cost averaging in action.
SPTM Sector Allocation
Here's how SPTM distributes its investments across different sectors of the economy:
SPTM's largest sector allocation is Technology at 30.0%, followed by Healthcare at 12.0% and Financials at 13.0%.
View data table
| Sector | Weight |
|---|---|
| Technology | 30.0% |
| Healthcare | 12.0% |
| Financials | 13.0% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 10.0% |
| Industrials | 10.0% |
| Communication Services | 8.0% |
| Consumer Staples | 5.0% |
| Energy | 4.0% |
| Utilities | 3.0% |
| Real Estate | 3.0% |
| Materials | 2.0% |
Dollar Cost Averaging Into SPTM
Here's what consistent monthly investing could look like over time, assuming an average annual return of 8% (approximate historical stock market average):
| Monthly | 10 Years | 20 Years | 30 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $18,417 | $59,295 | $150,030 |
| $250/mo | $46,041 | $148,237 | $375,074 |
| $500/mo | $92,083 | $296,474 | $750,148 |
*Projections assume 8% average annual return with monthly compounding. Actual returns will vary. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Fee impact: With SPTM's expense ratio of 0.03%, a $10,000 investment would lose approximately $258 to fees over 20 years compared to a zero-fee investment. This is a reasonable fee level for the value provided.
SPTM's expense ratio of 0.03% costs $259 on a $10,000 investment over 20 years (assuming 8% annual return). Without fees, the investment would grow to $46,610 instead of $46,351.
View data table
| Year | Without Fees | With Fees | Fee Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| 5 | $14,693 | $14,673 | $20 |
| 10 | $21,589 | $21,529 | $60 |
| 15 | $31,722 | $31,590 | $132 |
| 20 | $46,610 | $46,351 | $259 |
Pros and Cons of SPTM
Pros
- ✓Covers large, mid, and small-cap U.S. stocks in a single ultra-low-cost fund
- ✓S&P profitability screens apply across all market cap segments
- ✓Just 0.03% expense ratio for detailed total market exposure
- ✓Simpler than holding separate large, mid, and small-cap ETFs
Cons
- ✗Smaller AUM compared to mega-popular total market funds like VTI or ITOT
- ✗Still dominated by mega-cap tech stocks due to market-cap weighting
- ✗Less name recognition may mean some investors overlook this excellent fund
SPTM vs Similar ETFs
See how SPTM stacks up against similar funds:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SPTM a good ETF for beginners?▾
SPTM has a Beginner Suitability Score of 9/10 on our scale. This makes it a strong choice for new investors due to its low fees and broad diversification.
What is the expense ratio of SPTM?▾
SPTM has an expense ratio of 0.03%. This means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $3 per year in fees. This is considered very low and cost-efficient.
How much money do I need to invest in SPTM?▾
You can invest in SPTM with as little as $1 through brokers that offer fractional shares (like Fidelity, Schwab, or Robinhood). There is no minimum investment required beyond the share price itself, which changes daily. Dollar cost averaging — investing a fixed amount regularly — is a popular strategy.
Does SPTM pay dividends?▾
Yes, SPTM pays dividends with a current yield of approximately 1.40%. Dividends are typically paid quarterly and can be reinvested automatically through most brokers.
What are the top holdings in SPTM?▾
The top holdings in SPTM include Apple (6.50%), Microsoft (6.00%), NVIDIA (5.50%), and more. The fund holds 1,500 total positions, providing broad diversification across many companies.
What sectors does SPTM invest in?▾
SPTM's largest sector allocations are Technology (30.00%), Healthcare (12.00%), Financials (13.00%). This sector distribution shows a technology-heavy portfolio typical of large-cap U.S. equity funds.
How much do SPTM's fees cost over time?▾
With an expense ratio of 0.03%, a $10,000 investment in SPTM would lose approximately $258 to fees over 20 years (assuming 8% annual returns). This is a reasonable fee level.