DBEZ vs SPY
Xtrackers MSCI Eurozone Hedged Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DBEZ or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DBEZ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DBEZ is less concentrated, with 27.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | DBEZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 599 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.41% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.33%Best | +18.53% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.25% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.84% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,498 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 27.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 15, 2014 to Sep 9, 2026 (11.7 years).
DBEZ 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 11.7 years both funds cover.
DBEZ vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers MSCI Eurozone Hedged Equity ETF (DBEZ) 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 DBEZ returned +21.33% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, DBEZ is up 11.41% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, DBEZ compounded at +18.25% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.84% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.81% annualized vs +9.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DBEZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 15.0% 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 -38.8% for DBEZ 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBEZ charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DBEZ currently yields 1.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 587 holdings in DBEZ and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 587 positions we hold weights for in DBEZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 599 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DBEZ (99.4% of the fund), and 10 for DBEZ that do not appear in SPY (1.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DBEZ 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, DBEZ or SPY?
DBEZ has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DBEZ or SPY?
Over the past year DBEZ returned +21.33% vs +18.53% for SPY, so DBEZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), DBEZ annualized +9.49% vs +12.81% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBEZ or SPY?
DBEZ has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DBEZ -38.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DBEZ and SPY?
DBEZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, DBEZ or SPY?
DBEZ yields 1.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DBEZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DBEZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DBEZ led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DBEZ is less concentrated, with 27.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.