DWM vs SPY
WisdomTree International Equity Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, DWM or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DWM is less concentrated, with 11.3% 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 | DWM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $689M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.65% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,426 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.44% | +12.19%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.20% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.51% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.23% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.3% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,274 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2006 to Sep 9, 2026 (20.2 years).
DWM 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 20.2 years both funds cover.
DWM vs SPY Performance
WisdomTree International Equity Fund (DWM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year DWM returned +17.20% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, DWM is up 10.44% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, DWM compounded at +18.51% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.23% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.76% annualized vs +3.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DWM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% compared with 15.3% 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 -64.3% for DWM 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DWM charges 0.48% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $9 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DWM currently yields 2.65% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of DWM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings DWM also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 1,384 positions we hold weights for in DWM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,426 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for DWM (99.5% of the fund), and 26 for DWM that do not appear in SPY (4.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DWM 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, DWM or SPY?
DWM has an expense ratio of 0.48% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DWM or SPY?
Over the past year DWM returned +17.20% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), DWM annualized +3.08% vs +9.76% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DWM or SPY?
DWM has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: DWM -64.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both DWM and SPY?
DWM 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, DWM or SPY?
DWM yields 2.65% while SPY yields 0.98%, so DWM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than DWM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. DWM is less concentrated, with 11.3% 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.