SPY vs THW
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Abrdn World Healthcare Fund
Which is better, SPY or THW?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THW over 1Y.
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 | THW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 3.00% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $483M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 10.27% |
| Holdings | 505 | 123 |
| YTD Return | +12.71% | +18.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.36% | +29.27%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.09%Best | +14.69% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.69%Best | +6.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2%Best | 20.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -55.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,173Best | $13,759 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Aberdeen |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jun 26, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2015 to Sep 8, 2026 (11.2 years).
SPY vs THW 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
SPY vs THW Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Abrdn World Healthcare Fund (THW) is an ETF from Aberdeen. Over the past year SPY returned +19.36% while THW returned +29.27%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.71% versus a gain of 18.83% for THW.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.09% per year against +14.69% for THW; over five years the annualized figures are +12.69% and +6.59% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.00% annualized vs +2.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
THW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% compared with 15.2% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -55.7% for THW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while THW charges 3.00%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $300 annually, a gap of $291 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 10.27% for THW.
Holdings Overlap
At least 6.8% of SPY's money is in holdings THW also owns.
Only one direction is shown: for THW, our book for it lists positions totalling 118.6% of the fund, which is what a leveraged book looks like and is not a denominator we can divide by.
SPY and THW share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 216 days apart, SPY as of Aug 4, 2026 and THW as of Dec 31, 2025, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
27 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 96 in THW, against full books of 505 and 123.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in THW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.65% | 3.85% | 3.20% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.47% | 3.56% | 3.09% |
| ABTAbbott Laboratories | 0.28% | 3.63% | 3.35% |
| DHRDanaher Corporation | 0.18% | 3.10% | 2.92% |
| ISRGIntuitive Surgical Inc | 0.20% | 2.85% | 2.65% |
| MDTMEDTRONIC | 0.17% | 2.73% | 2.56% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.33% | 1.48% | 0.15% |
| TMOThermo Fisherscientific Inc. | 0.32% | 2.03% | 1.71% |
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 0.11% | 1.77% | 1.66% |
| VTRVentas, Inc. | 0.07% | 1.79% | 1.72% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and THW 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, SPY or THW?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while THW charges 3.00%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $291 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or THW?
Over the past year SPY returned +19.36% vs +29.27% for THW, so THW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SPY annualized +13.00% vs +2.02% for THW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or THW?
THW has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs THW -55.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and THW?
SPY and THW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and THW?
At least 6.8% of SPY's money is in holdings THW also owns. Our book for THW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 96 in THW.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or THW?
SPY yields 1.01% while THW yields 10.27%, so THW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is THW better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, THW over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.