NUDG vs SPY
Nuveen Dividend Growth Fund ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NUDG or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.4%.
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 | NUDG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | - | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.26% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 43 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +1.66% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 2, 2026 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
NUDG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
NUDG vs SPY Performance
Nuveen Dividend Growth Fund ETF (NUDG) is an ETF from Nuveen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Year to date, NUDG is up 1.66% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUDG charges 0.61% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $9 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUDG currently yields 0.26% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
93.7% of NUDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.4% of SPY's money is in holdings NUDG also owns.
Most of NUDG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
42 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in NUDG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 43 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 452 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NUDG (68.2% of the fund), and 0 for NUDG that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 NUDG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.90% | 6.83% | 0.07% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.80% | 5.50% | 0.30% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.40% | 2.97% | 2.43% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.90% | 2.67% | 0.23% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 3.80% | 1.44% | 2.36% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 4.40% | 0.32% | 4.08% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.30% | 1.94% | 0.64% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.50% | 0.69% | 1.81% |
| AXPAmerican Express Co. | 2.70% | 0.28% | 2.42% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 2.70% | 0.27% | 2.43% |
93.7% of NUDG 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, NUDG or SPY?
NUDG has an expense ratio of 0.61% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between NUDG and SPY?
93.7% of NUDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 31.4% of SPY's is in holdings NUDG also owns. They hold 42 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in NUDG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUDG or SPY?
NUDG yields 0.26% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NUDG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.