BGIA vs SPY
Baillie Gifford International Alpha ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BGIA or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BGIA is less concentrated, with 29.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | BGIA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $327M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 87 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +2.08% | +14.93%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.25% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.24% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.88% |
| Top 10 Weight | 29.0%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | Baillie Gifford Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 2, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
BGIA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
BGIA vs SPY Performance
Baillie Gifford International Alpha ETF (BGIA) is an ETF from Baillie Gifford Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, BGIA is up 2.08% versus a gain of 14.93% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGIA charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGIA currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
1.2% of BGIA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings BGIA also owns.
BGIA and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in BGIA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 87 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BGIA (99.2% of the fund), and 10 for BGIA that do not appear in SPY (11.3%).
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 BGIA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRH:LNCrh Plc - Common | 1.19% | 0.09% | 1.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGIA 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, BGIA or SPY?
BGIA has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between BGIA and SPY?
1.2% of BGIA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings BGIA also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in BGIA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BGIA or SPY?
BGIA yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BGIA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BGIA is less concentrated, with 29.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.