EFAD vs SPY
ProShares MSCI EAFE Dividend Growers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EFAD or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAD is less concentrated, with 14.4% 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 | EFAD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $64M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 75 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.59% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.60% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.19% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.13% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,065 | $19,027Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.4%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 19, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 21, 2014 to Sep 21, 2026 (12.1 years).
EFAD 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 12.1 years both funds cover.
EFAD vs SPY Performance
ProShares MSCI EAFE Dividend Growers ETF (EFAD) is an ETF from ProShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year EFAD returned +3.60% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, EFAD is up 5.59% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, EFAD compounded at +9.19% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.13% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.55% annualized vs +2.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 14.1% for EFAD. 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 -35.7% for EFAD 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFAD 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, EFAD currently yields 2.51% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 71 holdings in EFAD and 504 in SPY, totalling 96.3% 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 71 positions we hold weights for in EFAD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 75 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EFAD (99.3% of the fund), and 1 for EFAD that do not appear in SPY (1.4%).
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 EFAD 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, EFAD or SPY?
EFAD 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, EFAD or SPY?
Over the past year EFAD returned +3.60% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), EFAD annualized +2.90% vs +12.55% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFAD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 14.1% for EFAD. Worst drawdown: EFAD -35.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EFAD and SPY?
EFAD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, EFAD or SPY?
EFAD yields 2.51% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EFAD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EFAD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EFAD is less concentrated, with 14.4% 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.