ESGG vs SPY
Northern Trust STOXX Global ESG Select ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ESGG or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.2%.
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 | ESGG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.42% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $114M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 728 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.11%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +25.29%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.89% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.3%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,537 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.2% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 14, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.1 years).
ESGG 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.
ESGG vs SPY Performance
Northern Trust STOXX Global ESG Select ETF (ESGG) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ESGG returned +25.29% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ESGG is up 17.11% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ESGG compounded at +21.18% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.89% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.18% annualized vs +13.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESGG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% 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 -32.3% for ESGG 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESGG charges 0.42% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $42 vs $9 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESGG currently yields 1.29% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
65.8% of ESGG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.0% of SPY's money is in holdings ESGG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
103 positions in common, counted across the 676 positions we hold weights for in ESGG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 728 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 395 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ESGG (54.5% of the fund), and 15 for ESGG that do not appear in SPY (2.0%).
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 ESGG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.97% | 7.71% | 2.74% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.67% | 6.83% | 2.16% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.76% | 5.50% | 0.26% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.92% | 2.97% | 1.95% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 5.12% | 1.44% | 3.68% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.17% | 1.51% | 2.66% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.60% | 1.33% | 2.27% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 3.27% | 0.92% | 2.35% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.88% | 0.96% | 1.92% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.87% | 1.42% | 0.45% |
65.8% of ESGG 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, ESGG or SPY?
ESGG has an expense ratio of 0.42% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESGG or SPY?
Over the past year ESGG returned +25.29% vs +19.97% for SPY, so ESGG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ESGG annualized +13.92% vs +14.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESGG or SPY?
ESGG has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ESGG -32.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ESGG and SPY?
ESGG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 ESGG and SPY?
65.8% of ESGG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.0% of SPY's is in holdings ESGG also owns. They hold 103 positions in common, counted across the 676 positions we hold weights for in ESGG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESGG or SPY?
ESGG yields 1.29% while SPY yields 1.01%, so ESGG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ESGG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESGG led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.