SPDW vs VIG
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF
Which is better, SPDW or VIG?
Each has led over a different period.
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y and 3Y, VIG over 5Y and the full window. SPDW is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.4%.
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 | SPDW | VIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.04% |
| AUM | $41.1B | $112.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.92% | 1.48% |
| Holdings | 2,440 | 336 |
| YTD Return | +12.16%Best | +10.13% |
| 1Y Return | +20.14%Best | +13.24% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.46%Best | +17.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.69% | +11.04%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 13.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.2% | -48.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,879 | $16,881Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.6%Best | 33.4% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | Apr 21, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2007 to Oct 12, 2026 (19.5 years).
SPDW vs VIG 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 VIG Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPDW returned +20.14% while VIG returned +13.24%. Year to date, SPDW is up 12.16% versus a gain of 10.13% for VIG.
Over three years, SPDW compounded at +20.46% per year against +17.51% for VIG; over five years the annualized figures are +9.69% and +11.04% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VIG has the edge at +8.33% annualized vs +2.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPDW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 13.5% for VIG. 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 -48.2% for VIG. 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
SPDW charges 0.03% per year while VIG charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $4 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPDW currently yields 2.92% against 1.48% for VIG.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SPDW's money is in holdings VIG also owns. 0.6% of VIG's money is in holdings SPDW also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 2,395 positions we hold weights for in SPDW and 322 in VIG, against full books of 2,440 and 336.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 298 positions for VIG that do not appear in our book for SPDW (98.8% of the fund), and 56 for SPDW that do not appear in VIG (6.9%).
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 SPDW and VIG 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 VIG?
SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VIG charges 0.04%. SPDW is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPDW or VIG?
Over the past year SPDW returned +20.14% vs +13.24% for VIG, so SPDW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPDW annualized +2.93% vs +8.33% for VIG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPDW or VIG?
SPDW has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 13.5% for VIG. Worst drawdown: SPDW -62.2% vs VIG -48.2%.
Should I hold both SPDW and VIG?
SPDW and VIG 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPDW or VIG?
SPDW yields 2.92% while VIG yields 1.48%, so SPDW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VIG better than SPDW?
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y and 3Y, VIG over 5Y and the full window. SPDW is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.