NWLG vs SPY
Nuveen Winslow Large-Cap Growth ESG ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, NWLG or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.4%.
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 | NWLG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $9M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 42 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.3% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $11,691 | $15,968Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 4, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 158 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. NWLG has data through Apr 6, 2026 and SPY through Sep 11, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 5, 2021 to Apr 6, 2026 (4.7 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NWLG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.3% compared with 15.7% 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 -39.9% for NWLG and -24.5% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NWLG charges 0.65% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $9 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NWLG currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
92.5% of NWLG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 41.9% of SPY's money is in holdings NWLG also owns.
Most of NWLG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 216 days apart, NWLG as of Dec 31, 2025 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
35 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in NWLG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 42 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 459 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for NWLG (57.6% of the fund), and 3 for NWLG that do not appear in SPY (5.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NWLG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 12.49% | 7.71% | 4.78% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 11.29% | 5.50% | 5.79% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.76% | 6.83% | 1.93% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.22% | 4.08% | 1.14% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 6.20% | 2.67% | 3.53% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.58% | 2.97% | 2.61% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 3.44% | 1.94% | 1.50% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.66% | 1.33% | 1.33% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 2.20% | 1.38% | 0.82% |
| VVisa Inc | 2.24% | 0.92% | 1.32% |
92.5% of NWLG 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, NWLG or SPY?
NWLG has an expense ratio of 0.65% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, NWLG or SPY?
NWLG has been the more volatile fund at 21.3% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: NWLG -39.9% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both NWLG and SPY?
NWLG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 NWLG and SPY?
92.5% of NWLG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 41.9% of SPY's is in holdings NWLG also owns. They hold 35 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in NWLG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, NWLG or SPY?
NWLG yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than NWLG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.