DVLU vs SPY
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DVLU or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DVLU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. DVLU is less concentrated, with 31.4% 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 | DVLU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $49M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.66% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 102 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.59%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +30.44%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.63%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.16%Best | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.9% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,555Best | $18,270 |
| Top 10 Weight | 31.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 5, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 7, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8 years).
DVLU 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 8 years both funds cover.
DVLU vs SPY Performance
First Trust Dorsey Wright Momentum & Value ETF (DVLU) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DVLU returned +30.44% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, DVLU is up 14.59% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, DVLU compounded at +21.63% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.16% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.17% annualized vs +10.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DVLU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% compared with 16.8% 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 -53.3% for DVLU 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DVLU charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DVLU currently yields 0.66% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
62.2% of DVLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.9% of SPY's money is in holdings DVLU also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DVLU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 102 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 464 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DVLU (95.6% of the fund), and 17 for DVLU that do not appear in SPY (34.7%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DVLU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMGeneral Motors Co | 3.99% | 0.12% | 3.87% |
| IVZInvesco PLC | 3.47% | 0.02% | 3.45% |
| APOAthene (Ath) / Apollo Global Management (Apo) | 2.98% | 0.09% | 2.89% |
| CVSCvs Health Corp. | 2.86% | 0.20% | 2.66% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 2.66% | 0.35% | 2.31% |
| PFGPrincipalfinancialgroupinc. | 2.92% | 0.03% | 2.89% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 2.83% | 0.02% | 2.81% |
| CNCCentene | 2.78% | 0.05% | 2.73% |
| UALUnited Airlines Holdings Inc. | 2.74% | 0.06% | 2.68% |
| EIXEdison Intl | 2.67% | 0.04% | 2.63% |
62.2% of DVLU 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, DVLU or SPY?
DVLU has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DVLU or SPY?
Over the past year DVLU returned +30.44% vs +19.97% for SPY, so DVLU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), DVLU annualized +10.67% vs +14.17% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DVLU or SPY?
DVLU has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 16.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DVLU -53.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DVLU and SPY?
DVLU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 DVLU and SPY?
62.2% of DVLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.9% of SPY's is in holdings DVLU also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in DVLU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, DVLU or SPY?
DVLU yields 0.66% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DVLU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DVLU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. DVLU is less concentrated, with 31.4% 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.