SPY vs VCSH
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF
Which is better, SPY or VCSH?
Large Cap Blend against Short Term Bond.
VCSH has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 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 | SPY | VCSH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $52.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 4.47% |
| Holdings | 505 | 3,023 |
| YTD Return | +13.81%Best | +0.43% |
| 1Y Return | +16.94%Best | +1.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.84%Best | +5.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.50%Best | +2.22% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.4% | 2.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -12.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,836Best | $11,160 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Short Term Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 19, 2009 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 23, 2009 to Sep 22, 2026 (16.8 years).
SPY vs VCSH 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
SPY vs VCSH Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Short Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCSH) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% while VCSH returned +1.71%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.81% versus a gain of 0.43% for VCSH.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.84% per year against +5.44% for VCSH; over five years the annualized figures are +13.50% and +2.22% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.73% annualized vs +1.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 2.6% for VCSH. 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 -12.9% for VCSH. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VCSH charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 4.47% for VCSH.
Holdings Overlap
At least 8.9% of SPY's money is in holdings VCSH also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VCSH, our book for it covers 62.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and VCSH share little of their money.
11 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,545 in VCSH, against full books of 505 and 3,023.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VCSH | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 0.09% | 7.17% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 0.35% | 0.02% | 0.33% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.29% | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.13% | 0.19% | 0.06% |
| DEDeere & Co Sedol 2261203 | 0.26% | 0.04% | 0.22% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.18% | 0.04% | 0.14% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 0.12% | 0.03% | 0.09% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| BSXBoston Scientific Corp. | 0.11% | 0.01% | 0.10% |
| AZOAutozone Inc Snr S* Ice | 0.07% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VCSH 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 VCSH?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VCSH charges 0.03%. VCSH is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VCSH?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% vs +1.71% for VCSH, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SPY annualized +12.73% vs +1.26% for VCSH. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VCSH?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 2.6% for VCSH. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VCSH -12.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and VCSH?
SPY and VCSH have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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 VCSH?
At least 8.9% of SPY's money is in holdings VCSH also owns. Our book for VCSH is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 11 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,545 in VCSH.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VCSH?
SPY yields 0.98% while VCSH yields 4.47%, so VCSH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCSH better than SPY?
VCSH has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.