SPEM vs VTI
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SPEM or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SPEM led over 1Y, VTI over 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 | SPEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $17.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 3,044 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.88% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.86%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.36% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.47% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.1% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,682 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 19, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 23, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.5 years).
SPEM vs VTI 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.
SPEM vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPEM returned +23.86% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, SPEM is up 12.88% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, SPEM compounded at +18.36% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.47% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.40% annualized vs +4.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 16.0% for VTI. 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 -65.1% for SPEM and -56.6% for VTI. 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
SPEM charges 0.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $3 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPEM currently yields 2.54% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPEM's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, SPEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
5 positions in common, counted across the 2,855 positions we hold weights for in SPEM and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 3,044 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPEM and VTI 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, SPEM or VTI?
SPEM has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPEM or VTI?
Over the past year SPEM returned +23.86% vs +20.00% for VTI, so SPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPEM annualized +4.01% vs +9.40% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPEM or VTI?
SPEM has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SPEM -65.1% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SPEM and VTI?
SPEM and VTI 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, SPEM or VTI?
SPEM yields 2.54% while VTI yields 1.07%, so SPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SPEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SPEM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.