NORW vs SPY
Global X MSCI Norway ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NORW or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NORW led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%.
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 | NORW | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $96M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.77% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 64 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +32.36%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +35.12%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.61%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.48% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.0% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,023 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.3% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 9, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2009 to Sep 10, 2026 (17.1 years).
NORW 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 17.1 years both funds cover.
NORW vs SPY Performance
Global X MSCI Norway ETF (NORW) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year NORW returned +35.12% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, NORW is up 32.36% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, NORW compounded at +22.61% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.48% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.10% annualized vs +7.27%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NORW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 14.3% 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 -42.6% for NORW 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NORW charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NORW currently yields 6.77% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 59 holdings in NORW and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% 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 59 positions we hold weights for in NORW and 504 in SPY, against full books of 64 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NORW (99.5% of the fund), and 1 for NORW that do not appear in SPY (1.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NORW 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, NORW or SPY?
NORW has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NORW or SPY?
Over the past year NORW returned +35.12% vs +17.48% for SPY, so NORW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), NORW annualized +7.27% vs +13.10% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NORW or SPY?
NORW has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NORW -42.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both NORW and SPY?
NORW and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, NORW or SPY?
NORW yields 6.77% while SPY yields 0.98%, so NORW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NORW?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. NORW led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.