SGDJ vs SPY
Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SGDJ or SPY?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SGDJ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%.
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 | SGDJ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $362M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.12% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 31 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.35%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +63.74%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +62.42%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.93%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 40.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $30,432Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Sprott ETFS | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 31, 2015 to Sep 11, 2026 (11.4 years).
SGDJ 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
SGDJ vs SPY Performance
Sprott Junior Gold Miners ETF (SGDJ) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SGDJ returned +63.74% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SGDJ is up 16.35% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, SGDJ compounded at +62.42% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +24.93% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SGDJ has the edge at +15.97% annualized vs +12.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SGDJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 40.8% compared with 15.1% 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 -59.3% for SGDJ 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SGDJ 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, SGDJ currently yields 7.12% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in SGDJ and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in SGDJ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 31 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SGDJ (99.5% of the fund), and 0 for SGDJ that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SGDJ 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, SGDJ or SPY?
SGDJ 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, SGDJ or SPY?
Over the past year SGDJ returned +63.74% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SGDJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SGDJ annualized +15.97% vs +12.84% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SGDJ or SPY?
SGDJ has been the more volatile fund at 40.8% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SGDJ -59.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SGDJ and SPY?
SGDJ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SGDJ or SPY?
SGDJ yields 7.12% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SGDJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SGDJ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SGDJ led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.