NUMG vs SPY
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NUMG or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUMG is less concentrated, with 31.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | NUMG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $355M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 44 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -4.29% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.70% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.75% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.63% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.0% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,211 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 31.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 13, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 14, 2016 to Sep 18, 2026 (9.8 years).
NUMG 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
NUMG vs SPY Performance
Nuveen ESG Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NUMG) is an ETF from Nuveen and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year NUMG returned -7.70% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, NUMG is down 4.29% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, NUMG compounded at +6.75% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.63% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.13% annualized vs +8.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUMG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% 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 -39.0% for NUMG 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUMG charges 0.31% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $31 vs $9 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NUMG currently yields 0.01% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
58.8% of NUMG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings NUMG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
25 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NUMG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 44 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 472 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NUMG (98.0% of the fund), and 18 for NUMG that do not appear in SPY (36.7%).
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 NUMG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 4.26% | 0.10% | 4.16% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 3.54% | 0.08% | 3.46% |
| CIENCiena Corp | 3.29% | 0.08% | 3.21% |
| VEEVVeeva Systems Inc | 3.21% | 0.06% | 3.15% |
| IDXXIdexx Labs | 3.02% | 0.07% | 2.95% |
| KEYSKeysight Technologies Inc. | 2.84% | 0.08% | 2.76% |
| AXONAxon Enterprise Inc | 2.68% | 0.06% | 2.62% |
| RMDResmed Inc. | 2.68% | 0.05% | 2.63% |
| EMEEmcor Group Inc | 2.58% | 0.05% | 2.53% |
| GWWWw Grainger Inc. | 2.48% | 0.09% | 2.39% |
58.8% of NUMG 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, NUMG or SPY?
NUMG has an expense ratio of 0.31% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NUMG or SPY?
Over the past year NUMG returned -7.70% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUMG annualized +8.77% vs +14.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUMG or SPY?
NUMG has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NUMG -39.0% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both NUMG and SPY?
NUMG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 NUMG and SPY?
58.8% of NUMG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings NUMG also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in NUMG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUMG or SPY?
NUMG yields 0.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NUMG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUMG is less concentrated, with 31.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.