EDOW vs SPY
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EDOW 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. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. EDOW is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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 | EDOW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $328M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.24% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 62 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.38% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.28% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.07% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.18% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.7%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,237 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 8, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 9, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.1 years).
EDOW 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 9.1 years both funds cover.
EDOW vs SPY Performance
First Trust Dow 30 Equal Weight ETF (EDOW) 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 EDOW returned +18.28% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EDOW is up 12.38% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, EDOW compounded at +17.07% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.18% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.28% annualized vs +10.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 15.4% for EDOW. 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 -33.7% for EDOW 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EDOW charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EDOW currently yields 1.24% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
99.8% of EDOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 38.9% of SPY's money is in holdings EDOW also owns.
Most of EDOW is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
30 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in EDOW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 62 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 466 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EDOW (60.5% of the fund), and 0 for EDOW that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EDOW | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.36% | 7.71% | 4.35% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.28% | 6.83% | 3.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.77% | 5.50% | 1.73% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.52% | 4.08% | 0.56% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 3.27% | 3.33% | 0.06% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.57% | 1.44% | 2.13% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 3.51% | 0.92% | 2.59% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 3.32% | 0.92% | 2.40% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 3.71% | 0.32% | 3.39% |
| TRVThe Travelers Cos, Inc. | 3.88% | 0.12% | 3.76% |
99.8% of EDOW 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, EDOW or SPY?
EDOW has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EDOW or SPY?
Over the past year EDOW returned +18.28% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), EDOW annualized +10.89% vs +14.28% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EDOW or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 15.4% for EDOW. Worst drawdown: EDOW -33.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EDOW and SPY?
EDOW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EDOW and SPY?
99.8% of EDOW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 38.9% of SPY's is in holdings EDOW also owns. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in EDOW and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, EDOW or SPY?
EDOW yields 1.24% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EDOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EDOW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. EDOW is less concentrated, with 36.4% 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.