DEM vs SPY
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DEM or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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 | DEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.19% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 518 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +22.99%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +29.77%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.19% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.45% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.0% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,437 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.1%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.1 years).
DEM 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 19.1 years both funds cover.
DEM vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DEM is up 22.99% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DEM compounded at +18.19% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.45% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.16% annualized vs +2.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 15.6% 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 -57.0% for DEM and -56.5% 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEM charges 0.63% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $9 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEM currently yields 4.19% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 501 holdings in DEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 97.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 126 days apart, DEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in DEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 518 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DEM (99.5% of the fund), and 10 for DEM that do not appear in SPY (1.7%).
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 DEM 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, DEM or SPY?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEM or SPY?
Over the past year DEM returned +29.77% vs +19.97% for SPY, so DEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DEM annualized +2.02% vs +9.16% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEM or SPY?
DEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DEM -57.0% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DEM and SPY?
DEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, DEM or SPY?
DEM yields 4.19% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEM is less concentrated, with 22.1% 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.