GENZ vs SPY
VanEck Digital Native Economy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GENZ or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.1%.
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 | GENZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.54% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 40 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -7.03% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | -14.65% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -1.01% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.36% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.3% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.1% | -52.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,002 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 67.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2008 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 24, 2008 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.6 years).
GENZ 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 18.6 years both funds cover.
GENZ vs SPY Performance
VanEck Digital Native Economy ETF (GENZ) 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 GENZ returned -14.65% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, GENZ is down 7.03% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, GENZ compounded at -1.01% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -4.36% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +10.14% annualized vs +1.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GENZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.3% compared with 15.6% 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 -71.1% for GENZ and -52.4% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GENZ charges 0.51% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $9 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GENZ currently yields 3.54% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
60.4% of GENZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings GENZ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
15 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in GENZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 40 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 479 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GENZ (98.1% of the fund), and 15 for GENZ that do not appear in SPY (23.2%).
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 GENZ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCHWCharles Schwab Corp. | 8.88% | 0.26% | 8.62% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 8.54% | 0.22% | 8.32% |
| DASHDoordash Inc | 6.54% | 0.12% | 6.42% |
| ABNBAirbnb Inc | 6.19% | 0.09% | 6.10% |
| TTWOTake-Two Interactive Software, Inc. | 6.20% | 0.06% | 6.14% |
| CMECme Group Inc. | 4.76% | 0.14% | 4.62% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 4.22% | 0.11% | 4.11% |
| EBAYEbay Inc. | 3.27% | 0.07% | 3.20% |
| PYPLPaypal Holdings Inc | 2.35% | 0.08% | 2.27% |
| IBKRInteractive Brokers Group Inc | 2.05% | 0.06% | 1.99% |
60.4% of GENZ 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, GENZ or SPY?
GENZ has an expense ratio of 0.51% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GENZ or SPY?
Over the past year GENZ returned -14.65% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), GENZ annualized +1.96% vs +10.14% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GENZ or SPY?
GENZ has been the more volatile fund at 26.3% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: GENZ -71.1% vs SPY -52.4%.
Should I hold both GENZ and SPY?
GENZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 GENZ and SPY?
60.4% of GENZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings GENZ also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 36 positions we hold weights for in GENZ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GENZ or SPY?
GENZ yields 3.54% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GENZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GENZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.