AGEM vs SPY
abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AGEM or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AGEM led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%.
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 | AGEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $375M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.87% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 96 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +25.66%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +34.90%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +38.54%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +38.54%Best | +13.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.4% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $51,036Best | $18,481 |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.6% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 4, 1993 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 22, 2009 to Sep 23, 2026 (17.2 years).
AGEM 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
AGEM vs SPY Performance
abrdn Emerging Markets Dividend Active ETF (AGEM) 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 AGEM returned +34.90% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, AGEM is up 25.66% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, AGEM compounded at +38.54% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +38.54% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.39% annualized vs +5.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AGEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.4% compared with 14.3% 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 -33.5% for AGEM 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGEM charges 0.70% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $9 annually, a gap of $61 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGEM currently yields 1.87% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 87 holdings in AGEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.1% and 99.9% 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 87 positions we hold weights for in AGEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 96 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AGEM (99.3% of the fund), and 5 for AGEM that do not appear in SPY (3.9%).
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 AGEM 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, AGEM or SPY?
AGEM has an expense ratio of 0.70% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $61 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGEM or SPY?
Over the past year AGEM returned +34.90% vs +16.73% for SPY, so AGEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), AGEM annualized +5.73% vs +13.39% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGEM or SPY?
AGEM has been the more volatile fund at 23.4% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AGEM -33.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AGEM and SPY?
AGEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, AGEM or SPY?
AGEM yields 1.87% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AGEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AGEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AGEM led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.