NUSC vs SPY
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NUSC or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUSC is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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 | NUSC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 406 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.24% | +13.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.68% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.90% | +23.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.20% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.5% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,284 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 9.3%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | 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 25, 2026 (9.8 years).
NUSC 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.
NUSC vs SPY Performance
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) 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 NUSC returned +14.68% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, NUSC is up 9.24% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Over three years, NUSC compounded at +13.90% per year against +23.29% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.20% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.24% annualized vs +9.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% 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 -41.5% for NUSC 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NUSC 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, NUSC currently yields 0.91% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
7.8% of NUSC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings NUSC also owns.
NUSC and SPY share little of their money.
16 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in NUSC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 406 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NUSC (99.0% of the fund), and 370 for NUSC that do not appear in SPY (88.7%).
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 NUSC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VTRSViatris Inc. | 1.05% | 0.03% | 1.02% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts Inc | 0.96% | 0.02% | 0.94% |
| CSGPCostar Group Inc. | 0.90% | 0.02% | 0.88% |
| FDSFactset Research Systems Inc. | 0.81% | 0.02% | 0.79% |
| PNRPentair Plc Ordinary Shares | 0.72% | 0.01% | 0.71% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 0.63% | 0.02% | 0.61% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 0.52% | 0.02% | 0.50% |
| GDDYGodaddy Inc. Class A | 0.45% | 0.02% | 0.43% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 0.42% | 0.02% | 0.40% |
| IVZInvesco Plc | 0.41% | 0.02% | 0.39% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NUSC 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, NUSC or SPY?
NUSC 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, NUSC or SPY?
Over the past year NUSC returned +14.68% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), NUSC annualized +9.23% vs +14.24% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NUSC or SPY?
NUSC has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NUSC -41.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both NUSC and SPY?
NUSC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 NUSC and SPY?
7.8% of NUSC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's is in holdings NUSC also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 400 positions we hold weights for in NUSC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NUSC or SPY?
NUSC yields 0.91% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NUSC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. NUSC is less concentrated, with 9.3% 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.