SDG vs SPY
iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SDG or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDG is less concentrated, with 37.8% 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 | SDG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $178M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.68% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 147 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +9.34% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.20% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.97% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.28% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -30.4%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,141 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2016 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 22, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.4 years).
SDG 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 10.4 years both funds cover.
SDG vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SDG returned +16.20% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, SDG is up 9.34% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, SDG compounded at +7.97% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.28% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.22% annualized vs +7.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.4% for SDG. 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 -30.4% for SDG 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDG charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDG currently yields 1.68% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
29.9% of SDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 8.9% of SPY's money is in holdings SDG also owns.
SDG and SPY share little of their money.
14 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in SDG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 147 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 482 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SDG (90.6% of the fund), and 6 for SDG that do not appear in SPY (2.3%).
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 SDG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.74% | 7.71% | 3.97% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 4.83% | 0.29% | 4.54% |
| FSLRFirst Solar, Inc | 4.28% | 0.04% | 4.24% |
| KMBKimberly-Clark Corp. | 3.27% | 0.06% | 3.21% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 2.25% | 0.11% | 2.14% |
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 1.98% | 0.18% | 1.80% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 1.83% | 0.16% | 1.67% |
| WYWeyerhaeuser Co. | 1.75% | 0.03% | 1.72% |
| MASMasco Corp. | 1.61% | 0.02% | 1.59% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 1.40% | 0.10% | 1.30% |
29.9% of SDG 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, SDG or SPY?
SDG has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDG or SPY?
Over the past year SDG returned +16.20% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), SDG annualized +7.47% vs +14.22% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 14.4% for SDG. Worst drawdown: SDG -30.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SDG and SPY?
SDG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 SDG and SPY?
29.9% of SDG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 8.9% of SPY's is in holdings SDG also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 118 positions we hold weights for in SDG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDG or SPY?
SDG yields 1.68% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SDG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDG is less concentrated, with 37.8% 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.