DBAW vs SPY
Xtrackers MSCI All World ex US Hedged Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DBAW or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DBAW led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DBAW is less concentrated, with 13.8% 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 | DBAW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $321M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.67% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,782 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.68%Best | +12.89% |
| 1Y Return | +24.69%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.03% | +22.46%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.44% | +13.01%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.4%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,972 | $18,433Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 27, 2014 to Sep 24, 2026 (12.7 years).
DBAW 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
DBAW vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers MSCI All World ex US Hedged Equity ETF (DBAW) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DBAW returned +24.69% while SPY returned +17.01%. Year to date, DBAW is up 14.68% versus a gain of 12.89% for SPY.
Over three years, DBAW compounded at +21.03% per year against +22.46% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.44% and +13.01% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.89% annualized vs +7.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 12.1% for DBAW. 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 -31.4% for DBAW 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBAW charges 0.40% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $9 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DBAW currently yields 1.67% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings DBAW also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,706 positions we hold weights for in DBAW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,782 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DBAW (99.2% of the fund), and 22 for DBAW that do not appear in SPY (2.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DBAW 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, DBAW or SPY?
DBAW has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DBAW or SPY?
Over the past year DBAW returned +24.69% vs +17.01% for SPY, so DBAW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), DBAW annualized +7.56% vs +12.89% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBAW or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 12.1% for DBAW. Worst drawdown: DBAW -31.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DBAW and SPY?
DBAW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DBAW or SPY?
DBAW yields 1.67% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DBAW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DBAW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DBAW led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DBAW is less concentrated, with 13.8% 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.