AAUB vs SPY
Alpha Architect US Equity 4 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AAUB or SPY?
SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AAUB is less concentrated, with 33.8% 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 | AAUB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $850M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 1,408 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.43% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.8%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 23, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AAUB 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.
AAUB vs SPY Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity 4 ETF (AAUB) 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, AAUB is up 3.43% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUB charges 0.10% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $9 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUB currently yields 0.00% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
68.5% of AAUB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.0% of SPY's money is in holdings AAUB also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside AAUB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
459 positions in common, counted across the 1,404 positions we hold weights for in AAUB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,408 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 41 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AAUB (1.8% of the fund), and 452 for AAUB that do not appear in SPY (25.1%).
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 AAUB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.78% | 7.71% | 0.93% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.27% | 6.83% | 0.56% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.31% | 5.50% | 2.19% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.94% | 4.08% | 1.14% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 2.82% | 3.33% | 0.51% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.06% | 2.97% | 0.09% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.22% | 2.67% | 1.45% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.66% | 1.94% | 0.28% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.07% | 1.27% | 0.80% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.10% | 1.51% | 0.41% |
98.0% of SPY is already inside AAUB.
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, AAUB or SPY?
AAUB has an expense ratio of 0.10% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUB and SPY?
98.0% of SPY's money is in holdings AAUB also owns. 98.0% of SPY's is in holdings AAUB also owns. They hold 459 positions in common, counted across the 1,404 positions we hold weights for in AAUB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUB or SPY?
AAUB yields 0.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AAUB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AAUB is less concentrated, with 33.8% 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.