SHAG vs SPY
Wisdomtree Yield Enhanced US Short-Term Aggregate Bond Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SHAG or SPY?
Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | SHAG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $47M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.23% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,210 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.84% | +11.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | -2.14% | +15.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.42% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.80% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.6%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,406 | $18,093Best |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 18, 2017 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 18, 2017 to Sep 15, 2026 (9.3 years).
SHAG 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SHAG vs SPY Performance
Wisdomtree Yield Enhanced US Short-Term Aggregate Bond Fund (SHAG) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year SHAG returned -2.14% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, SHAG is down 2.84% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, SHAG compounded at +3.42% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +0.80% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.18% annualized vs +1.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 2.6% for SHAG. 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 -9.6% for SHAG 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SHAG charges 0.12% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $9 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SHAG currently yields 4.23% against 0.98% for SPY.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SHAG 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, SHAG or SPY?
SHAG has an expense ratio of 0.12% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SHAG or SPY?
Over the past year SHAG returned -2.14% vs +15.87% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SHAG annualized +1.69% vs +14.18% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SHAG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 2.6% for SHAG. Worst drawdown: SHAG -9.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both SHAG and SPY?
SHAG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, SHAG or SPY?
SHAG yields 4.23% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SHAG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SHAG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.