AGD vs SPY
Abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AGD or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AGD led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. AGD is less concentrated, with 27.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | AGD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $325M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.73% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.10% | +12.99%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.48% | +16.73%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.17%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.00% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.3% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,105 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.7%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 26, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 26, 2006 to Sep 23, 2026 (20.2 years).
AGD 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
AGD vs SPY Performance
Abrdn Global Dynamic Dividend Fund (AGD) is an ETF from Aberdeen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AGD returned +1.48% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, AGD is up 10.10% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, AGD compounded at +23.17% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.00% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.75% annualized vs -3.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AGD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.7% compared with 15.3% 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 -88.3% for AGD and -56.5% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGD charges 1.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $135 vs $9 annually, a gap of $126 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGD currently yields 11.73% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
51.5% of AGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.1% of SPY's money is in holdings AGD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
41 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AGD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 456 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AGD (64.2% of the fund), and 7 for AGD that do not appear in SPY (5.2%).
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 AGD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.49% | 8.01% | 5.52% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.14% | 7.26% | 4.12% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.04% | 5.66% | 2.62% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.35% | 2.66% | 0.69% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.43% | 2.39% | 1.04% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.58% | 1.45% | 0.13% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 1.36% | 0.62% | 0.74% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.28% | 0.66% | 0.62% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.24% | 0.70% | 0.54% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.28% | 0.56% | 0.72% |
51.5% of AGD 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AGD or SPY?
AGD has an expense ratio of 1.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $126 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGD or SPY?
Over the past year AGD returned +1.48% vs +16.73% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), AGD annualized -3.37% vs +9.75% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGD or SPY?
AGD has been the more volatile fund at 23.7% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AGD -88.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both AGD and SPY?
AGD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AGD and SPY?
51.5% of AGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.1% of SPY's is in holdings AGD also owns. They hold 41 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AGD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AGD or SPY?
AGD yields 11.73% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AGD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AGD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AGD led over 3Y, SPY over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. AGD is less concentrated, with 27.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.