DURA vs SPY
VanEck Durable High Dividend ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DURA or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DURA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.4%.
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 | DURA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $39M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.10% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 70 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.42%Best | +11.97% |
| 1Y Return | +18.28%Best | +16.40% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.73% | +21.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.68% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 16.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,477 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.4% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 30, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 31, 2018 to Sep 14, 2026 (7.9 years).
DURA 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
DURA vs SPY Performance
VanEck Durable High Dividend ETF (DURA) 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 DURA returned +18.28% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, DURA is up 16.42% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Over three years, DURA compounded at +10.73% per year against +21.10% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.68% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.11% annualized vs +8.91%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.7% compared with 14.4% for DURA. 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 -35.3% for DURA 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
DURA charges 0.30% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $9 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DURA currently yields 3.10% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.0% of DURA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.4% of SPY's money is in holdings DURA also owns.
Most of DURA is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
63 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in DURA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 70 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 434 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DURA (89.0% of the fund), and 5 for DURA that do not appear in SPY (0.5%).
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 DURA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 5.91% | 0.56% | 5.35% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 5.19% | 1.04% | 4.15% |
| BACBank Of America Corp. | 5.23% | 0.62% | 4.61% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 5.22% | 0.60% | 4.62% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 5.12% | 0.52% | 4.60% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 5.00% | 0.44% | 4.56% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 4.65% | 0.32% | 4.33% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 4.16% | 0.27% | 3.89% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 4.11% | 0.18% | 3.93% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 3.78% | 0.29% | 3.49% |
99.0% of DURA 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, DURA or SPY?
DURA has an expense ratio of 0.30% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DURA or SPY?
Over the past year DURA returned +18.28% vs +16.40% for SPY, so DURA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DURA annualized +8.91% vs +15.11% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DURA or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.7% annualized versus 14.4% for DURA. Worst drawdown: DURA -35.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DURA and SPY?
DURA 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.
What is the holdings overlap between DURA and SPY?
99.0% of DURA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 10.4% of SPY's is in holdings DURA also owns. They hold 63 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in DURA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DURA or SPY?
DURA yields 3.10% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DURA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DURA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DURA led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 48.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.