SDY vs VOO
State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, SDY or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDY is less concentrated, with 20.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | SDY | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $21.7B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.39% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 158 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +10.87% | +11.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.59% | +15.94%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.30% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.55% | +12.66%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.2% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,390 | $18,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.6%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 8, 2005 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 15, 2026 (16 years).
SDY vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
SDY vs VOO Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SDY returned +12.59% while VOO returned +15.94%. Year to date, SDY is up 10.87% versus a gain of 11.48% for VOO.
Over three years, SDY compounded at +11.30% per year against +21.01% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.55% and +12.66% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.34% annualized vs +8.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VOO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 13.3% for SDY. 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 -37.2% for SDY and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SDY charges 0.35% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SDY currently yields 2.39% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
84.5% of SDY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 20.4% of VOO's money is in holdings SDY also owns.
Most of SDY is already inside VOO. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
99 positions in common, counted across the 156 positions we hold weights for in SDY and 494 in VOO, against full books of 158 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 389 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for SDY (78.8% of the fund), and 56 for SDY that do not appear in VOO (15.1%).
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 SDY | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.54% | 5.36% | 4.82% |
| VZVerizon Communic | 3.28% | 0.30% | 2.98% |
| ACNAccenture Plc | 3.04% | 0.16% | 2.88% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 2.03% | 0.57% | 1.46% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.39% | 1.00% | 0.39% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 1.94% | 0.30% | 1.64% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 2.14% | 0.09% | 2.05% |
| MDTMedtronic Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.79% | 0.17% | 1.62% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.97% | 0.96% | 0.01% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 1.22% | 0.69% | 0.53% |
84.5% of SDY is already inside VOO.
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, SDY or VOO?
SDY has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SDY or VOO?
Over the past year SDY returned +12.59% vs +15.94% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SDY annualized +8.45% vs +13.34% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SDY or VOO?
VOO has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 13.3% for SDY. Worst drawdown: SDY -37.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both SDY and VOO?
SDY and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 SDY and VOO?
84.5% of SDY's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 20.4% of VOO's is in holdings SDY also owns. They hold 99 positions in common, counted across the 156 positions we hold weights for in SDY and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, SDY or VOO?
SDY yields 2.39% while VOO yields 1.04%, so SDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than SDY?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SDY is less concentrated, with 20.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.