DWAS vs SPY
Invesco Dorsey Wright SmallCap Momentum ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DWAS or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DWAS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DWAS is less concentrated, with 13.0% 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 | DWAS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $408M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 202 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.45%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +18.01%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.04% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.01% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,389 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 19, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 19, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (14.2 years).
DWAS 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 14.2 years both funds cover.
DWAS vs SPY Performance
Invesco Dorsey Wright SmallCap Momentum ETF (DWAS) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DWAS returned +18.01% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, DWAS is up 13.45% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, DWAS compounded at +13.04% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.01% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.42% annualized vs +11.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DWAS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 14.1% 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 -46.2% for DWAS 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
DWAS 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, DWAS currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 201 holdings in DWAS and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 201 positions we hold weights for in DWAS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 202 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DWAS (99.3% of the fund), and 200 for DWAS that do not appear in SPY (99.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DWAS and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DWAS or SPY?
DWAS 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, DWAS or SPY?
Over the past year DWAS returned +18.01% vs +16.29% for SPY, so DWAS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), DWAS annualized +11.41% vs +13.42% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DWAS or SPY?
DWAS has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DWAS -46.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DWAS and SPY?
DWAS 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DWAS or SPY?
DWAS yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DWAS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. DWAS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DWAS is less concentrated, with 13.0% 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.