ESGD vs SPY
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ESGD or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ESGD is less concentrated, with 14.0% 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 | ESGD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $12.2B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.25% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 378 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.78%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +19.82%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.00% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.76% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,218 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.0%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 30, 2016 to Sep 8, 2026 (10.2 years).
ESGD 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 10.2 years both funds cover.
ESGD vs SPY Performance
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ESGD returned +19.82% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, ESGD is up 12.78% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, ESGD compounded at +18.00% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.76% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.40% annualized vs +8.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.8% for ESGD. 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 -36.3% for ESGD 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESGD charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESGD currently yields 3.25% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
1.7% of ESGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ESGD also owns.
ESGD and SPY share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 355 positions we hold weights for in ESGD and 503 in SPY, against full books of 378 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ESGD (98.9% of the fund), and 10 for ESGD that do not appear in SPY (2.6%).
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 ESGD 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, ESGD or SPY?
ESGD has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESGD or SPY?
Over the past year ESGD returned +19.82% vs +19.36% for SPY, so ESGD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ESGD annualized +8.90% vs +14.40% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESGD or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.8% for ESGD. Worst drawdown: ESGD -36.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ESGD and SPY?
ESGD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ESGD and SPY?
1.7% of ESGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.6% of SPY's is in holdings ESGD also owns. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 355 positions we hold weights for in ESGD and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESGD or SPY?
ESGD yields 3.25% while SPY yields 1.01%, so ESGD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ESGD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ESGD is less concentrated, with 14.0% 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.