AAUA vs SPY
Alpha Architect US Equity 3 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AAUA or SPY?
AAUA and SPY are close on what we can measure.
SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | AAUA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Tie | 0.09%Tie |
| AUM | $361M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 354 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +18.95%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | - | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 18, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AAUA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AAUA vs SPY Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity 3 ETF (AAUA) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, AAUA is up 18.95% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUA charges 0.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually. On income, AAUA currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
98.7% of AAUA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 90.7% of SPY's money is in holdings AAUA also owns.
Most of AAUA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
287 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 354 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 211 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AAUA (8.8% of the fund), and 2 for AAUA that do not appear in SPY (0.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAUA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.22% | 8.01% | 0.21% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.97% | 7.26% | 0.29% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.67% | 5.66% | 0.01% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.77% | 3.79% | 0.02% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.07% | 2.99% | 0.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.80% | 2.66% | 0.14% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.46% | 2.39% | 0.07% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.89% | 1.93% | 0.04% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.65% | 1.60% | 0.05% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 1.52% | 0.00% |
98.7% of AAUA is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAUA or SPY?
AAUA has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUA and SPY?
98.7% of AAUA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 90.7% of SPY's is in holdings AAUA also owns. They hold 287 positions in common, counted across the 294 positions we hold weights for in AAUA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUA or SPY?
AAUA yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AAUA?
SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.