HDEF vs SPY
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HDEF or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
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 41.5%.
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 | HDEF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Tie | 0.09%Tie |
| AUM | $2.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.69% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 123 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.29% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.88% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.22% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.02% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,639 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 12, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 18, 2015 to Sep 10, 2026 (11.1 years).
HDEF 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 11.1 years both funds cover.
HDEF vs SPY Performance
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE High Dividend Yield Equity ETF (HDEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year HDEF returned +16.88% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, HDEF is up 10.29% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, HDEF compounded at +18.22% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.02% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.06% annualized vs +5.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.7% for HDEF. 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 -38.2% for HDEF 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HDEF charges 0.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually. On income, HDEF currently yields 3.69% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 112 holdings in HDEF and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.1% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 112 positions we hold weights for in HDEF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 123 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for HDEF (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for HDEF that do not appear in SPY (3.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HDEF 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, HDEF or SPY?
HDEF has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, HDEF or SPY?
Over the past year HDEF returned +16.88% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), HDEF annualized +5.30% vs +13.06% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HDEF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.7% for HDEF. Worst drawdown: HDEF -38.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HDEF and SPY?
HDEF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, HDEF or SPY?
HDEF yields 3.69% while SPY yields 0.98%, so HDEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HDEF?
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 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.