DWAW vs SPY
Advisorshares Dorsey Wright Fsm All Cap World Etf vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DWAW or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | DWAW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.23% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $92M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.67% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 7 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.14%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +15.33% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.97% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.65% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 16.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,457 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Advisor Shares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 26, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 27, 2019 to Sep 18, 2026 (6.7 years).
DWAW 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 6.7 years both funds cover.
DWAW vs SPY Performance
Advisorshares Dorsey Wright Fsm All Cap World Etf (DWAW) is an ETF from Advisor Shares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DWAW returned +15.33% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, DWAW is up 12.14% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, DWAW compounded at +17.97% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.65% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.87% annualized vs +11.49%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DWAW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% compared with 16.9% 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 -31.6% for DWAW 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DWAW charges 1.23% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $123 vs $9 annually, a gap of $114 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DWAW currently yields 0.67% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6 holdings in DWAW 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 6 positions we hold weights for in DWAW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 7 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DWAW (99.3% of the fund), and 6 for DWAW that do not appear in SPY (100.0%).
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 DWAW 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, DWAW or SPY?
DWAW has an expense ratio of 1.23% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $114 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DWAW or SPY?
Over the past year DWAW returned +15.33% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), DWAW annualized +11.49% vs +14.87% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DWAW or SPY?
DWAW has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 16.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DWAW -31.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both DWAW and SPY?
DWAW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, DWAW or SPY?
DWAW yields 0.67% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DWAW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.