AADR vs SPY
AdvisorShares Dorsey Wright ADR ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AADR or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AADR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.09% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $39M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.84% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 38 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.38% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.39% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.03% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.08% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,433 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Advisor Shares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 20, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 21, 2010 to Sep 8, 2026 (16.1 years).
AADR vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 16.1 years both funds cover.
AADR vs SPY Performance
AdvisorShares Dorsey Wright ADR ETF (AADR) is an ETF from Advisor Shares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AADR returned +2.39% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, AADR is down 2.38% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, AADR compounded at +20.03% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.08% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.49% annualized vs +8.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AADR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 14.2% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -45.6% for AADR and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AADR charges 1.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $109 vs $9 annually, a gap of $100 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AADR currently yields 0.84% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 36 holdings in AADR and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.2% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in AADR and 503 in SPY, against full books of 38 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AADR (99.4% of the fund), and 15 for AADR that do not appear in SPY (39.5%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AADR and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AADR or SPY?
AADR has an expense ratio of 1.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $100 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AADR or SPY?
Over the past year AADR returned +2.39% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), AADR annualized +8.50% vs +13.49% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AADR or SPY?
AADR has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AADR -45.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AADR and SPY?
AADR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AADR or SPY?
AADR yields 0.84% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AADR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.