ESGE vs SPY
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ESGE or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGE led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. ESGE is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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 | ESGE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.23% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 315 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +23.13%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +40.60%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.57%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.77% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,537 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.7%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: Jul 20, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.1 years).
ESGE 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 10.1 years both funds cover.
ESGE vs SPY Performance
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) 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 ESGE returned +40.60% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ESGE is up 23.13% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ESGE compounded at +24.57% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.77% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.16% annualized vs +8.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESGE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% 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 -41.1% for ESGE 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESGE charges 0.25% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $9 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESGE currently yields 2.23% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 285 holdings in ESGE and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.5% and 100.0% 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 285 positions we hold weights for in ESGE and 503 in SPY, against full books of 315 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ESGE (99.4% of the fund), and 5 for ESGE that do not appear in SPY (0.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ESGE 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, ESGE or SPY?
ESGE has an expense ratio of 0.25% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESGE or SPY?
Over the past year ESGE returned +40.60% vs +19.97% for SPY, so ESGE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ESGE annualized +8.77% vs +14.16% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESGE or SPY?
ESGE has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ESGE -41.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ESGE and SPY?
ESGE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, ESGE or SPY?
ESGE yields 2.23% while SPY yields 1.01%, so ESGE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ESGE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGE led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. ESGE is less concentrated, with 37.7% 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.