DEEF vs SPY
Xtrackers FTSE Developed ex US Multifactor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DEEF or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEEF led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEEF is less concentrated, with 5.9% 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 | DEEF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $57M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 1,244 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.32%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +22.15%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.97% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.00% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -40.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,693 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 24, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 24, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.8 years).
DEEF 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 10.8 years both funds cover.
DEEF vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers FTSE Developed ex US Multifactor ETF (DEEF) 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 DEEF returned +22.15% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DEEF is up 15.32% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DEEF compounded at +18.97% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.00% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.62% annualized vs +6.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.9% for DEEF. 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 -40.6% for DEEF 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEEF charges 0.24% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $9 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEEF currently yields 3.38% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,227 holdings in DEEF and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.7% 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 1,227 positions we hold weights for in DEEF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,244 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DEEF (99.5% of the fund), and 8 for DEEF that do not appear in SPY (0.9%).
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 DEEF 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, DEEF or SPY?
DEEF has an expense ratio of 0.24% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEEF or SPY?
Over the past year DEEF returned +22.15% vs +19.97% for SPY, so DEEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), DEEF annualized +6.66% vs +13.62% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEEF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.9% for DEEF. Worst drawdown: DEEF -40.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DEEF and SPY?
DEEF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, DEEF or SPY?
DEEF yields 3.38% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DEEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DEEF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEEF led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEEF is less concentrated, with 5.9% 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.