AVUS vs SPY
Avantis US Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AVUS or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. AVUS is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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 | AVUS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $14.5B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.93% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 1,875 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.21%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +24.04%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.23%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.91%Best | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 16.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,351Best | $18,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2019 to Sep 4, 2026 (6.9 years).
AVUS 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
AVUS vs SPY Performance
Avantis US Equity ETF (AVUS) 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 AVUS returned +24.04% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, AVUS is up 17.21% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, AVUS compounded at +21.23% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.91% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, AVUS has the edge at +16.08% annualized vs +15.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% 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 -37.0% for AVUS 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUS charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUS currently yields 0.93% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
81.8% of AVUS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 93.8% of SPY's money is in holdings AVUS also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside AVUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
389 positions in common, counted across the 1,293 positions we hold weights for in AVUS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,875 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 108 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AVUS (5.7% of the fund), and 521 for AVUS that do not appear in SPY (12.8%).
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 AVUS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.43% | 7.71% | 2.28% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.62% | 6.83% | 1.21% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.34% | 5.50% | 2.16% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.19% | 4.08% | 0.89% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 1.95% | 3.33% | 1.38% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.59% | 2.67% | 1.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.15% | 2.97% | 1.82% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.15% | 1.94% | 0.21% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.41% | 1.51% | 0.90% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.42% | 1.44% | 0.02% |
93.8% of SPY is already inside AVUS.
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, AVUS or SPY?
AVUS has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUS or SPY?
Over the past year AVUS returned +24.04% vs +19.97% for SPY, so AVUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), AVUS annualized +16.08% vs +15.95% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUS or SPY?
AVUS has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 16.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AVUS -37.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both AVUS and SPY?
AVUS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AVUS and SPY?
93.8% of SPY's money is in holdings AVUS also owns. 93.8% of SPY's is in holdings AVUS also owns. They hold 389 positions in common, counted across the 1,293 positions we hold weights for in AVUS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUS or SPY?
AVUS yields 0.93% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AVUS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. AVUS is less concentrated, with 28.3% 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.