Quick Verdict

SPY has a lower expense ratio. BASV delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 503 holdings.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: BASVMore Diversified: SPY

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBASVSPYWinner
Expense Ratio0.71%0.09%
AUM$409M$789.1B
Dividend Yield0.37%1.01%
Holdings42505
YTD Return+13.93%+13.79%
1Y Return+24.37%+23.66%
3Y Return (annualized)-+21.40%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.37%
Volatility (annualized)9.6%15.3%
Max Drawdown-9.4%-56.5%
Fund FamilyBrown AdvisoryState Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
InceptionJun 13, 2025Jan 22, 1993

BASV vs SPY Performance

Brown Advisory Sustainable Value ETF (BASV) is a ETF from Brown Advisory and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BASV returned +24.37% while SPY returned +23.66%. Year to date, BASV is up 13.93% versus a gain of 13.79% for SPY.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 9.6% for BASV. 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 -9.4% for BASV and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

BASV charges 0.71% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $9 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BASV currently yields 0.37% against 1.01% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

10.6%overlap

BASV and SPY share 29 holdings out of 515 unique holdings combined, representing a 10.6% weight overlap.

Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in BASVWeight in SPYDifference
AMZN3.12%3.69%0.57%
MSFT2.32%4.43%2.11%
CAH3.92%0.09%3.83%
BACProProPro
GOOGProProPro
SWProProPro
DELLProProPro
CProProPro
WLTWProProPro
CEGProProPro
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, BASV or SPY?

BASV has an expense ratio of 0.71% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $62 per year of difference.

Which performed better, BASV or SPY?

Over the past year BASV returned +24.37% vs +23.66% for SPY, so BASV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BASV annualized +23.37% vs +8.85% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Which is riskier, BASV or SPY?

SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 9.6% for BASV. Worst drawdown: BASV -9.4% vs SPY -56.5%.

Should I hold both BASV and SPY?

BASV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so combining them can provide real diversification depending on your allocation goals.

What is the holdings overlap between BASV and SPY?

BASV and SPY share 29 common holdings with a 10.6% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 515 unique securities.

Which pays a higher dividend, BASV or SPY?

BASV yields 0.37% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

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