MPLY vs MOAT
MPLY is a newer active portfolio built around issuer-defined monopolistic attributes. MOAT is an established index fund combining Morningstar wide-moat ratings with valuation discipline. See the methodology.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Different processes, measured on the same fields.
The clearest difference is the selection process. MPLY delegates security selection to an active adviser and its Aug 24 holdings file reported a private SpaceX position. MOAT follows Morningstar's Wide Moat Focus Index. On the dated figures below, MOAT has the lower expense ratio and much longer operating record; MPLY reports more holdings rows, including cash. Those facts describe the trade-offs—they do not make either fund a recommendation.
Active judgement vs index rules
MPLY's adviser selects companies it believes possess one or more stated “Monopolistic Attributes.” MOAT tracks an index that combines Morningstar's wide-moat assessments with a valuation screen.
Fee and operating record
MPLY lists a 0.79% expense ratio and began in May 2025. MOAT lists 0.46% and began in April 2012. A lower fee is a known cost advantage; it does not predict which portfolio will perform better.
Different portfolio expression
MPLY reported 101 holdings rows including cash on Aug 24, 2026 and included private SpaceX. MOAT reported 56 holdings on Aug 21. Counts alone do not measure diversification because position sizes and overlap matter too.
Primary fund sources
Verify changing figures and complete risk language with the issuers:
INTERACTIVE HEAD TO HEAD — THIS PAIR IS PRESELECTED
MPLY AND MOAT — MATCHED FIELDS
| Field | MPLYStrategy Shares Monopoly ETF | MOATVanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Current | Current |
| Issuer | Strategy Shares | VanEck |
| Inception | May 15, 2025 | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Expense ratio | 0.79% | 0.46% |
| Assets (dated) | $17.36M (Aug 21, 2026) | $12.46B (Aug 21, 2026) |
| Approach | Active — adviser selects companies with one or more stated “Monopolistic Attributes”; prospectus says typically 75–125 companies | Index — tracks Morningstar's Wide Moat Focus Index (valuation-disciplined moats) |
| Holdings | 101 rows incl. cash (Aug 24, 2026) | 56 (Aug 21, 2026) |
| YTD 2026 (NAV) | +3.14% NAV (Jul 31, 2026) | +4.36% NAV (Jul 31, 2026) |
MPLY Strategy Shares Monopoly ETF
The newest take: an actively managed portfolio built around issuer-defined “Monopolistic Attributes.” The issuer's Aug 24 holdings file reports Space Exploration Technologies at about 4.38% of net assets. Its higher fee puts the burden on that selection process to earn it.
Prospectus & current figuresMOAT VanEck Morningstar Wide Moat ETF
The establishment pick: Morningstar's analysts rate the moats, the index buys the widest ones at the most attractive valuations, and the fund tracks it. It has operated since 2012, well before the other current funds.
Prospectus & current figuresDIRECT ANSWERS
MPLY vs MOAT questions
Which has the lower expense ratio, MPLY or MOAT?
MOAT lists a 0.46% expense ratio versus 0.79% for MPLY on the dated issuer figures used here. Fees reduce returns, but the two funds also follow different strategies and portfolios.
Are MPLY and MOAT both actively managed?
No. MPLY is actively managed. MOAT seeks to track the Morningstar Wide Moat Focus Index, so its holdings follow an index methodology rather than discretionary fund-manager selection.
Does MPLY's SpaceX position make it better than MOAT?
No conclusion follows from one holding. A private position can create differentiated exposure, but it also introduces valuation, liquidity, and concentration questions. Read the complete holdings and both prospectuses.
How this page is built
Fields and order are fixed and applied identically to every fund in the category. Figures are compiled from public issuer and SEC materials, stamped with as-of dates, and were reviewed Aug 25, 2026; nothing is scored, weighted, or ranked. Where a figure can't be verifiably sourced, it says “pending”—we don't fill gaps with guesses. See the research standards and methodology.