DEW vs SPY
WisdomTree Global High Dividend Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DEW or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEW led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEW is less concentrated, with 15.6% 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 | DEW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $163M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.14% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 690 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.67%Best | +13.78% |
| 1Y Return | +27.44%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.24% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.28% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.2% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,845 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2006 to Sep 3, 2026 (20.2 years).
DEW 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
DEW vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree Global High Dividend Fund (DEW) 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 DEW returned +27.44% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, DEW is up 19.67% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, DEW compounded at +20.24% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.28% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.85% annualized vs +2.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 15.2% 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 -69.2% for DEW 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEW charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEW currently yields 3.14% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
41.2% of DEW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.0% of SPY's money is in holdings DEW also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
89 positions in common, counted across the 680 positions we hold weights for in DEW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 690 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 407 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DEW (88.5% of the fund), and 152 for DEW that do not appear in SPY (18.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DEW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.65% | 0.96% | 1.69% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.93% | 0.92% | 1.01% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 1.99% | 0.54% | 1.45% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.39% | 0.65% | 0.74% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 1.33% | 0.47% | 0.86% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 1.31% | 0.44% | 0.87% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 1.02% | 0.39% | 0.63% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 1.23% | 0.17% | 1.06% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.91% | 0.32% | 0.59% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.91% | 0.29% | 0.62% |
41.2% of DEW 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, DEW or SPY?
DEW has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEW or SPY?
Over the past year DEW returned +27.44% vs +21.44% for SPY, so DEW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DEW annualized +2.95% vs +9.85% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEW or SPY?
DEW has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DEW -69.2% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DEW and SPY?
DEW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 DEW and SPY?
41.2% of DEW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 11.0% of SPY's is in holdings DEW also owns. They hold 89 positions in common, counted across the 680 positions we hold weights for in DEW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DEW or SPY?
DEW yields 3.14% while SPY yields 1.01%, so DEW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DEW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DEW led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DEW is less concentrated, with 15.6% 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.