EEA vs SPY
The European Equity Fund, Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EEA or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EEA is less concentrated, with 33.1% 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 | EEA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.09% |
| AUM | $90M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.00% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 60 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.95% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.46% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.09% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.51% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -82.4% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,707 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.1%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | DWS ETF Trust | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 23, 1986 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 1996 to Sep 4, 2026 (30.7 years).
EEA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
EEA vs SPY Performance
The European Equity Fund, Inc. (EEA) is an ETF from DWS ETF Trust and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EEA returned +14.46% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EEA is up 7.95% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, EEA compounded at +15.09% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.51% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.84% annualized vs +1.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.0% compared with 15.2% 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 -82.4% for EEA 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of EEA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings EEA also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 62 positions we hold weights for in EEA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 60 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EEA (99.5% of the fund), and 5 for EEA that do not appear in SPY (7.9%).
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 EEA | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRH:LNCrh Plc - Common | 0.88% | 0.10% | 0.78% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EEA 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 performed better, EEA or SPY?
Over the past year EEA returned +14.46% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), EEA annualized +1.12% vs +8.84% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EEA or SPY?
EEA has been the more volatile fund at 24.0% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EEA -82.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both EEA and SPY?
EEA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, EEA or SPY?
EEA yields 3.00% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EEA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EEA?
SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EEA is less concentrated, with 33.1% 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.