SAWG vs SPY
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SAWG or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SAWG is less concentrated, with 28.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | SAWG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 45 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.08% | +12.47%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.18% | +17.51%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 12.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.7%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,747 | $14,172Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWG 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SAWG vs SPY Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWG) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SAWG returned +12.18% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SAWG is up 9.08% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 12.0% for SAWG. 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 -18.7% for SAWG and -18.8% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWG charges 0.49% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $9 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWG currently yields 0.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
70.0% of SAWG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 91.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SAWG also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside SAWG. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
386 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 45 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 114 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SAWG (8.7% of the fund), and 82 for SAWG that do not appear in SPY (2.9%).
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 SAWG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 6.07% | 7.71% | 1.64% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.24% | 6.83% | 1.59% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.96% | 5.50% | 1.54% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.96% | 4.08% | 1.12% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.34% | 3.33% | 0.99% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.06% | 2.97% | 0.91% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.85% | 2.67% | 0.82% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.46% | 1.94% | 0.48% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.33% | 1.51% | 0.18% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.13% | 1.44% | 0.31% |
91.1% of SPY is already inside SAWG.
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, SAWG or SPY?
SAWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWG or SPY?
Over the past year SAWG returned +12.18% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWG annualized +12.25% vs +18.06% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 12.0% for SAWG. Worst drawdown: SAWG -18.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both SAWG and SPY?
SAWG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SAWG and SPY?
91.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SAWG also owns. 91.1% of SPY's is in holdings SAWG also owns. They hold 386 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWG or SPY?
SAWG yields 0.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SAWG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SAWG is less concentrated, with 28.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.