SPY vs TGRW
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs T. Rowe Price Growth Stock ETF
Which is better, SPY or TGRW?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.2%.
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 | SPY | TGRW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.52% |
| AUM | $811.2B | $1.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 69 |
| YTD Return | +12.70%Best | +5.96% |
| 1Y Return | +15.53%Best | +6.19% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.86%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.47%Best | +8.35% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Best | 19.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -43.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,811Best | $14,933 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2%Best | 60.2% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | T.Rowe Price |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 4, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 5, 2020 to Oct 1, 2026 (6.2 years).
SPY vs TGRW 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
SPY vs TGRW Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and T. Rowe Price Growth Stock ETF (TGRW) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price. Over the past year SPY returned +15.53% while TGRW returned +6.19%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.70% versus a gain of 5.96% for TGRW.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.86% per year against +21.18% for TGRW; over five years the annualized figures are +13.47% and +8.35% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.93% annualized vs +11.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TGRW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 15.3% for SPY. 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 -24.5% for SPY and -43.3% for TGRW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while TGRW charges 0.52%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $52 annually, a gap of $43 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.00% for TGRW.
Holdings Overlap
50.5% of SPY's money is in holdings TGRW also owns. 89.9% of TGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of TGRW is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
53 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 70 in TGRW, against full books of 1,515 and 69.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 10 positions for TGRW that do not appear in our book for SPY (2.7% of the fund), and 444 for SPY that do not appear in TGRW (48.7%).
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 SPY | Weight in TGRW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.78% | 14.71% | 6.93% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.12% | 12.21% | 9.09% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.45% | 6.44% | 1.01% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.71% | 5.36% | 0.35% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.48% | 6.24% | 3.76% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.22% | 3.30% | 1.08% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 1.65% | 2.13% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.37% | 3.41% | 2.04% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.22% | 3.47% | 2.25% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.59% | 2.66% | 1.07% |
89.9% of TGRW is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or TGRW?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while TGRW charges 0.52%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $43 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or TGRW?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.53% vs +6.19% for TGRW, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SPY annualized +15.93% vs +11.32% for TGRW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or TGRW?
TGRW has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs TGRW -43.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and TGRW?
SPY and TGRW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and TGRW?
89.9% of TGRW's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 89.9% of TGRW's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 53 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 70 in TGRW.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or TGRW?
SPY yields 0.98% while TGRW yields 0.00%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TGRW better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.