BUSA vs SPY
Brandes US Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BUSA or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUSA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. BUSA is less concentrated, with 24.3% 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 | BUSA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $324M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.37% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 65 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.06% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.67%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.72% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.2%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $16,314 | $18,741Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.3%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Brandes Investment Partners | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 3, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 5, 2023 to Sep 18, 2026 (3 years).
BUSA 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 3 years both funds cover.
BUSA vs SPY Performance
Brandes US Value ETF (BUSA) is an ETF from Brandes Investment Partners and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BUSA returned +16.67% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, BUSA is up 10.06% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, BUSA compounded at +17.72% per year against +21.20% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BUSA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 12.4% 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 -14.2% for BUSA and -18.8% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BUSA charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BUSA currently yields 1.37% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
76.2% of BUSA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.4% of SPY's money is in holdings BUSA also owns.
Most of BUSA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
47 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in BUSA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 65 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 451 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BUSA (88.0% of the fund), and 14 for BUSA that do not appear in SPY (19.4%).
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 BUSA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.98% | 2.39% | 0.41% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.97% | 0.56% | 2.41% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.68% | 0.62% | 2.06% |
| BDXBecton Dickinson And Co. | 2.92% | 0.08% | 2.84% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.09% | 0.60% | 1.49% |
| CICigna Corp. | 2.52% | 0.11% | 2.41% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.02% | 1.45% | 0.43% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.06% | 0.40% | 1.66% |
| PFEPfizer Inc | 2.17% | 0.25% | 1.92% |
| TXTTextron Inc. | 2.39% | 0.02% | 2.37% |
76.2% of BUSA 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BUSA or SPY?
BUSA has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BUSA or SPY?
Over the past year BUSA returned +16.67% vs +16.29% for SPY, so BUSA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BUSA or SPY?
BUSA has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BUSA -14.2% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both BUSA and SPY?
BUSA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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 BUSA and SPY?
76.2% of BUSA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.4% of SPY's is in holdings BUSA also owns. They hold 47 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in BUSA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BUSA or SPY?
BUSA yields 1.37% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BUSA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BUSA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. BUSA is less concentrated, with 24.3% 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.