SPDW vs VONG
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Which is better, SPDW or VONG?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, VONG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPDW is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%.
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 | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.06% |
| AUM | $41.1B | $45.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.92% | 0.46% |
| Holdings | 2,440 | 374 |
| YTD Return | +12.63%Best | +6.94% |
| 1Y Return | +19.48%Best | +7.26% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.88% | +24.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.65% | +13.43%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 15.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.8% | -32.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,851 | $18,778Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.6%Best | 56.4% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | Sep 20, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (16 years).
SPDW vs VONG 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.
SPDW vs VONG Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPDW returned +19.48% while VONG returned +7.26%. Year to date, SPDW is up 12.63% versus a gain of 6.94% for VONG.
Over three years, SPDW compounded at +20.88% per year against +24.01% for VONG; over five years the annualized figures are +9.65% and +13.43% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VONG has the edge at +15.71% annualized vs +5.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VONG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 15.3% 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 -38.8% for SPDW and -32.7% for VONG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPDW charges 0.03% per year while VONG charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPDW currently yields 2.92% against 0.46% for VONG.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of SPDW's money is in holdings VONG also owns. 0.5% of VONG's money is in holdings SPDW also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
8 positions in common, counted across the 2,395 positions we hold weights for in SPDW and 368 in VONG, against full books of 2,440 and 374.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 300 positions for VONG that do not appear in our book for SPDW (98.8% of the fund), and 53 for SPDW that do not appear in VONG (6.5%).
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 VONG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPOTSpotify Technology S.A. Ordinary Shares | 0.24% | 0.25% | 0.01% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.01% | 0.12% | 0.11% |
| QSRRestaurant Brands Int | 0.07% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| BAM:CABrookfield Asset Management Ltd. Cl A Ltd Vtg Shs | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| ASNDAscendis Pharma A/S | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| ONON:SMOn Holding Ag | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| IREN:AUIris Energy Ltd. | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| HLHecla Mining Co | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPDW and VONG 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 VONG?
SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VONG charges 0.06%. SPDW is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPDW or VONG?
Over the past year SPDW returned +19.48% vs +7.26% for VONG, so SPDW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPDW annualized +5.64% vs +15.71% for VONG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPDW or VONG?
VONG has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 15.3% for SPDW. Worst drawdown: SPDW -38.8% vs VONG -32.7%.
Should I hold both SPDW and VONG?
SPDW and VONG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 VONG?
SPDW yields 2.92% while VONG yields 0.46%, so SPDW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VONG better than SPDW?
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, VONG over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPDW is less concentrated, with 12.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.