AVEM vs SPY
Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AVEM or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window.
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 | AVEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $28.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 3,967 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +21.77%Best | +12.46% |
| 1Y Return | +30.45%Best | +16.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.56%Best | +22.82% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.43% | +13.41%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,180 | $18,761Best |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 19, 2019 to Sep 29, 2026 (7 years).
AVEM 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 7 years both funds cover.
AVEM vs SPY Performance
Avantis Emerging Markets Equity ETF (AVEM) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AVEM returned +30.45% while SPY returned +16.10%. Year to date, AVEM is up 21.77% versus a gain of 12.46% for SPY.
Over three years, AVEM compounded at +25.56% per year against +22.82% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.43% and +13.41% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.38% annualized vs +12.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 16.6% 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 -36.0% for AVEM 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVEM charges 0.33% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $9 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVEM currently yields 1.86% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings AVEM also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AVEM, our book for it covers 84.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,801 positions we hold weights for in AVEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 3,967 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVEM 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, AVEM or SPY?
AVEM has an expense ratio of 0.33% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVEM or SPY?
Over the past year AVEM returned +30.45% vs +16.10% for SPY, so AVEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AVEM annualized +12.06% vs +15.38% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVEM or SPY?
AVEM has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AVEM -36.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AVEM and SPY?
AVEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, AVEM or SPY?
AVEM yields 1.86% while SPY yields 0.98%, so AVEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AVEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.