CGUS vs SPY
Capital Group Core Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CGUS or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%.
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 | CGUS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $11.7B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 75 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.28% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.13% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -21.9%Best | -22.1% |
| $10,000 over 4.6 years | $19,005Tie | $19,005Tie |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.2% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Capital Group (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 22, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2022 to Sep 14, 2026 (4.6 years).
CGUS 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 4.6 years both funds cover.
CGUS vs SPY Performance
Capital Group Core Equity ETF (CGUS) is an ETF from Capital Group (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CGUS returned +13.13% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, CGUS is up 10.28% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, CGUS compounded at +20.73% per year against +21.10% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 14.8% for CGUS. 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 -21.9% for CGUS and -22.1% 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CGUS 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, CGUS currently yields 0.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
87.1% of CGUS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 52.6% of SPY's money is in holdings CGUS also owns.
Most of CGUS is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
55 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 75 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 443 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CGUS (46.9% of the fund), and 4 for CGUS that do not appear in SPY (2.4%).
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 CGUS | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.37% | 8.01% | 0.64% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 7.01% | 5.66% | 1.35% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.47% | 7.26% | 4.79% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.83% | 3.79% | 1.04% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.50% | 2.66% | 2.84% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.08% | 2.99% | 0.09% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.60% | 1.93% | 1.67% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.75% | 1.40% | 2.35% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.85% | 2.39% | 0.54% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.87% | 1.45% | 0.42% |
87.1% of CGUS 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, CGUS or SPY?
CGUS 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, CGUS or SPY?
Over the past year CGUS returned +13.13% vs +16.40% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CGUS or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.8% for CGUS. Worst drawdown: CGUS -21.9% vs SPY -22.1%.
Should I hold both CGUS and SPY?
CGUS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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 CGUS and SPY?
87.1% of CGUS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 52.6% of SPY's is in holdings CGUS also owns. They hold 55 positions in common, counted across the 68 positions we hold weights for in CGUS and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CGUS or SPY?
CGUS yields 0.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CGUS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 3Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.