DGT vs SPY
State Street SPDR Global Dow ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DGT or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DGT led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. DGT is less concentrated, with 12.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | DGT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $639M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.43% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 177 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.31%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +20.25%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.13%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.81%Best | +12.53% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.3% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,094Best | $18,044 |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2000 to Sep 16, 2026 (26 years).
DGT 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 26 years both funds cover.
DGT vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR Global Dow ETF (DGT) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DGT returned +20.25% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, DGT is up 13.31% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, DGT compounded at +21.13% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.81% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.90% annualized vs +3.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DGT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 15.1% 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 -58.3% for DGT 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DGT charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DGT currently yields 2.43% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
53.6% of DGT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 64.6% of SPY's money is in holdings DGT also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
86 positions in common, counted across the 158 positions we hold weights for in DGT and 504 in SPY, against full books of 177 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 412 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DGT (34.9% of the fund), and 5 for DGT that do not appear in SPY (3.5%).
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 DGT | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.68% | 8.01% | 7.33% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.76% | 7.26% | 6.50% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.56% | 5.66% | 5.10% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.61% | 3.79% | 3.18% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.43% | 2.99% | 2.56% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.54% | 2.66% | 2.12% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.60% | 1.14% | 0.46% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.34% | 2.39% | 2.05% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.97% | 0.67% | 1.30% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.42% | 1.93% | 1.51% |
64.6% of SPY is already inside DGT.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DGT or SPY?
DGT has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DGT or SPY?
Over the past year DGT returned +20.25% vs +15.52% for SPY, so DGT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), DGT annualized +3.69% vs +6.90% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DGT or SPY?
DGT has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DGT -58.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DGT and SPY?
DGT and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DGT and SPY?
64.6% of SPY's money is in holdings DGT also owns. 64.6% of SPY's is in holdings DGT also owns. They hold 86 positions in common, counted across the 158 positions we hold weights for in DGT and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DGT or SPY?
DGT yields 2.43% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DGT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DGT?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DGT led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. DGT is less concentrated, with 12.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.