AOD vs SPY
Abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AOD or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AOD led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. AOD is less concentrated, with 28.5% 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 | AOD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.16% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.0B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.73% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 86 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.13%Best | +13.81% |
| 1Y Return | +24.70%Best | +16.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.31%Best | +22.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.97% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.9% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,600 | $18,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 26, 2007 to Sep 22, 2026 (19.7 years).
AOD 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 19.7 years both funds cover.
AOD vs SPY Performance
Abrdn Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD) 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 AOD returned +24.70% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, AOD is up 17.13% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, AOD compounded at +24.31% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.97% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.41% annualized vs -4.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AOD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.9% compared with 15.4% 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 -88.1% for AOD 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
AOD charges 1.16% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $116 vs $9 annually, a gap of $107 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOD currently yields 11.73% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
52.1% of AOD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.0% of SPY's money is in holdings AOD also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
40 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AOD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 86 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 457 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AOD (64.3% of the fund), and 7 for AOD that do not appear in SPY (5.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AOD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.54% | 8.01% | 5.47% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.21% | 7.26% | 4.05% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.22% | 5.66% | 2.44% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.48% | 2.66% | 0.82% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.49% | 2.39% | 1.10% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.67% | 1.45% | 0.22% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 1.44% | 0.62% | 0.82% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.33% | 0.70% | 0.63% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.30% | 0.66% | 0.64% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.35% | 0.56% | 0.79% |
52.1% of AOD 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, AOD or SPY?
AOD has an expense ratio of 1.16% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $107 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOD or SPY?
Over the past year AOD returned +24.70% vs +16.94% for SPY, so AOD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), AOD annualized -4.06% vs +9.41% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOD or SPY?
AOD has been the more volatile fund at 21.9% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AOD -88.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both AOD and SPY?
AOD 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 AOD and SPY?
52.1% of AOD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.0% of SPY's is in holdings AOD also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 87 positions we hold weights for in AOD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AOD or SPY?
AOD yields 11.73% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AOD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AOD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AOD led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. AOD is less concentrated, with 28.5% 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.