FGD vs SPY
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, FGD or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FGD led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. FGD is less concentrated, with 16.6% 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 | FGD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.87% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 212 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +17.49%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +27.28%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.85%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.90%Best | +12.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.2% | -55.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,343Best | $18,205 |
| Top 10 Weight | 16.6%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 21, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 27, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.8 years).
FGD 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
FGD vs SPY Performance
First Trust Dow Jones Global Select Dividend Index Fund (FGD) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year FGD returned +27.28% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, FGD is up 17.49% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, FGD compounded at +24.85% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.90% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.73% annualized vs +2.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FGD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.7% 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 -70.2% for FGD and -55.2% 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
FGD 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, FGD currently yields 4.87% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
10.2% of FGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.9% of SPY's money is in holdings FGD also owns.
FGD and SPY share little of their money.
10 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in FGD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 212 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 484 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for FGD (98.6% of the fund), and 11 for FGD that do not appear in SPY (13.6%).
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 FGD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPQHp Inc. | 1.56% | 0.04% | 1.52% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 1.20% | 0.03% | 1.17% |
| MOAltria Group Inc. | 1.02% | 0.17% | 0.85% |
| TROWT Rowe Price Group Inc | 1.10% | 0.04% | 1.06% |
| VZVerizon Communications, Inc. | 0.85% | 0.29% | 0.56% |
| PRUPrudential Financial Inc. | 1.07% | 0.06% | 1.01% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 1.02% | 0.02% | 1.00% |
| UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc | 0.89% | 0.12% | 0.77% |
| FFord Motor Co. | 0.77% | 0.08% | 0.69% |
| GISGeneral Mills Inc. | 0.73% | 0.03% | 0.70% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FGD 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, FGD or SPY?
FGD 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, FGD or SPY?
Over the past year FGD returned +27.28% vs +17.48% for SPY, so FGD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), FGD annualized +2.56% vs +9.73% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FGD or SPY?
FGD has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: FGD -70.2% vs SPY -55.2%.
Should I hold both FGD and SPY?
FGD 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.
What is the holdings overlap between FGD and SPY?
10.2% of FGD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.9% of SPY's is in holdings FGD also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in FGD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, FGD or SPY?
FGD yields 4.87% while SPY yields 0.98%, so FGD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than FGD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. FGD led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. FGD is less concentrated, with 16.6% 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.