SPY vs VCLN
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF
Which is better, SPY or VCLN?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VCLN over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%.
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 | VCLN |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $5M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.94% |
| Holdings | 505 | 46 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | +5.27% |
| 1Y Return | +15.52% | +22.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73%Best | +16.64% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53%Best | +2.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8%Best | 27.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -45.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,044Best | $11,458 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 49.5% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 3, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 4, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.1 years).
SPY vs VCLN 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VCLN Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Virtus Duff & Phelps Clean Energy ETF (VCLN) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while VCLN returned +22.82%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a gain of 5.27% for VCLN.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.73% per year against +16.64% for VCLN; over five years the annualized figures are +12.53% and +2.76% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VCLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.2% compared with 15.8% 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 -45.7% for VCLN. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VCLN charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $59 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.94% for VCLN.
Holdings Overlap
1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings VCLN also owns. 15.0% of VCLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
VCLN and SPY share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 41 in VCLN, against full books of 505 and 46.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for VCLN that do not appear in our book for SPY (28.2% of the fund), and 491 for SPY that do not appear in VCLN (98.3%).
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 SPY and VCLN 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 VCLN?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VCLN charges 0.59%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VCLN?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs +22.82% for VCLN, so VCLN leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VCLN?
VCLN has been the more volatile fund at 27.2% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs VCLN -45.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and VCLN?
SPY and VCLN have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 VCLN?
15.0% of VCLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 15.0% of VCLN's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 41 in VCLN.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VCLN?
SPY yields 0.98% while VCLN yields 1.94%, so VCLN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCLN better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VCLN over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.