GII vs SPY
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, GII or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
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 39.3%.
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 | GII | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $936M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.66% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 90 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.55% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.12% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.12% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.84% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 15.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -53.6%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,988 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.3% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.6 years).
GII 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
GII vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF (GII) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year GII returned +9.12% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, GII is up 4.55% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, GII compounded at +16.12% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.84% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.26% annualized vs +2.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 15.0% for GII. 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 -53.6% for GII and -56.5% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GII charges 0.40% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $9 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GII currently yields 2.66% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
36.1% of GII's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.9% of SPY's money is in holdings GII also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 504 in SPY, against full books of 90 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for GII (97.6% of the fund), and 10 for GII that do not appear in SPY (8.7%).
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 GII | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 4.82% | 0.27% | 4.55% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 3.01% | 0.13% | 2.88% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.85% | 0.16% | 2.69% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.71% | 0.15% | 2.56% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corp | 2.35% | 0.13% | 2.22% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 2.04% | 0.16% | 1.88% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.11% | 0.09% | 2.02% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp. | 1.93% | 0.08% | 1.85% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co. Inc. | 1.89% | 0.10% | 1.79% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 1.90% | 0.08% | 1.82% |
36.1% of GII 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, GII or SPY?
GII has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GII or SPY?
Over the past year GII returned +9.12% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GII annualized +2.72% vs +9.26% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GII or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 15.0% for GII. Worst drawdown: GII -53.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both GII and SPY?
GII and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 GII and SPY?
36.1% of GII's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.9% of SPY's is in holdings GII also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, GII or SPY?
GII yields 2.66% while SPY yields 0.98%, so GII currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than GII?
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 39.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.