SPDW vs VB
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, SPDW or VB?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VB over the full window. VB is less concentrated, with 4.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 12.6%.
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 | SPDW | VB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $41.1B | $80.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.92% | 1.21% |
| Holdings | 2,440 | 1,307 |
| YTD Return | +12.81%Best | +11.76% |
| 1Y Return | +19.67%Best | +14.72% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.15%Best | +16.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.84%Best | +7.12% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5%Best | 19.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.2% | -61.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,988Best | $14,104 |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.6% | 4.6%Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | Jan 26, 2004 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2007 to Oct 9, 2026 (19.5 years).
SPDW vs VB 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 19.5 years both funds cover.
SPDW vs VB Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF (VB) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPDW returned +19.67% while VB returned +14.72%. Year to date, SPDW is up 12.81% versus a gain of 11.76% for VB.
Over three years, SPDW compounded at +20.15% per year against +16.93% for VB; over five years the annualized figures are +9.84% and +7.12% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VB has the edge at +7.72% annualized vs +2.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 17.5% for SPDW. 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 -62.2% for SPDW and -61.0% for VB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPDW charges 0.03% per year while VB charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, SPDW currently yields 2.92% against 1.21% for VB.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of SPDW's money is in holdings VB also owns. 0.8% of VB's money is in holdings SPDW also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
10 positions in common, counted across the 2,395 positions we hold weights for in SPDW and 1,249 in VB, against full books of 2,440 and 1,307.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,185 positions for VB that do not appear in our book for SPDW (93.1% of the fund), and 51 for SPDW that do not appear in VB (6.7%).
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 SPDW | Weight in VB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQTEQT Corp. | 0.05% | 0.21% | 0.16% |
| BENFranklin Resources Inc. | 0.01% | 0.13% | 0.12% |
| FROGJfrog Ltd | 0.03% | 0.10% | 0.07% |
| HLHecla Mining Co | 0.00% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.02% | 0.09% | 0.07% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| KNSA:LNKiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| SYMSymbotic Inc Class A | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPDW and VB 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, SPDW or VB?
SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VB charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, SPDW or VB?
Over the past year SPDW returned +19.67% vs +14.72% for VB, so SPDW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPDW annualized +2.96% vs +7.72% for VB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPDW or VB?
VB has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 17.5% for SPDW. Worst drawdown: SPDW -62.2% vs VB -61.0%.
Should I hold both SPDW and VB?
SPDW and VB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, SPDW or VB?
SPDW yields 2.92% while VB yields 1.21%, so SPDW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VB better than SPDW?
SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VB over the full window. VB is less concentrated, with 4.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 12.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.