ESPO vs SPY
VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ESPO or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESPO led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.1%.
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 | ESPO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $255M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.31% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 25 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -7.43% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.80% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.25%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.84% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 16.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,274 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 16, 2018 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 17, 2018 to Sep 11, 2026 (7.9 years).
ESPO 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 7.9 years both funds cover.
ESPO vs SPY Performance
VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) is an ETF from VanEck and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ESPO returned -17.80% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, ESPO is down 7.43% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, ESPO compounded at +23.25% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.84% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, ESPO has the edge at +16.78% annualized vs +14.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESPO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% compared with 16.7% 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 -51.0% for ESPO 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESPO charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESPO currently yields 1.31% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
6.7% of ESPO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ESPO also owns.
ESPO and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in ESPO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 25 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ESPO (99.5% of the fund), and 4 for ESPO that do not appear in SPY (22.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ESPO | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 6.66% | 0.06% | 6.60% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ESPO 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, ESPO or SPY?
ESPO has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESPO or SPY?
Over the past year ESPO returned -17.80% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), ESPO annualized +16.78% vs +14.60% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESPO or SPY?
ESPO has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 16.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ESPO -51.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ESPO and SPY?
ESPO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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 ESPO and SPY?
6.7% of ESPO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings ESPO also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 24 positions we hold weights for in ESPO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESPO or SPY?
ESPO yields 1.31% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ESPO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ESPO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ESPO led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.