DESK vs SPY
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DESK or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%.
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 | DESK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.56% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 26 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.80% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.41% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.02% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $14,057 | $18,645Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 19, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3 years).
DESK 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 3 years both funds cover.
DESK vs SPY Performance
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DESK returned +0.41% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DESK is up 12.80% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DESK compounded at +12.02% per year against +21.20% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DESK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 12.4% 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 -28.6% for DESK and -18.8% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DESK charges 0.51% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $9 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DESK currently yields 4.56% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
25.3% of DESK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings DESK also owns.
DESK and SPY share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in DESK and 503 in SPY, against full books of 26 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 25 and 503 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 487 positions DESK does not, 99.0% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
25.3% of DESK 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, DESK or SPY?
DESK has an expense ratio of 0.51% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DESK or SPY?
Over the past year DESK returned +0.41% vs +19.97% 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, DESK or SPY?
DESK has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DESK -28.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both DESK and SPY?
DESK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DESK and SPY?
25.3% of DESK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.5% of SPY's is in holdings DESK also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in DESK and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DESK or SPY?
DESK yields 4.56% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DESK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DESK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 68.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.