SPY vs VCV
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Invesco California Value Municipal Income Trust
Which is better, SPY or VCV?
Large Cap Blend against Municipal California.
SPY 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 | VCV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 3.57% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $3,027.72 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 7.89% |
| Holdings | 505 | 345 |
| YTD Return | +13.81%Best | -9.85% |
| 1Y Return | +16.94%Best | -1.90% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.84%Best | +10.12% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.50%Best | -2.00% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -63.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,836Best | $9,039 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Municipal California |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 30, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 22, 2026 (30.7 years).
SPY vs VCV 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 VCV Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Invesco California Value Municipal Income Trust (VCV) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% while VCV returned -1.90%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.81% versus a loss of 9.85% for VCV.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.84% per year against +10.12% for VCV; over five years the annualized figures are +13.50% and -2.00% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.82% annualized vs +0.19%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 14.3% for VCV. 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 -56.5% for SPY and -63.9% for VCV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.23. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VCV charges 3.57%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $357 annually, a gap of $348 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 7.89% for VCV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 86 in VCV, totalling 99.9% and 62.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 93 days apart, SPY as of Sep 1, 2026 and VCV as of May 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 86 in VCV, against full books of 505 and 345.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VCV 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 VCV?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VCV charges 3.57%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $348 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VCV?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.94% vs -1.90% for VCV, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), SPY annualized +8.82% vs +0.19% for VCV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VCV?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 14.3% for VCV. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs VCV -63.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and VCV?
SPY and VCV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.23, 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, SPY or VCV?
SPY yields 0.98% while VCV yields 7.89%, so VCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VCV better than SPY?
SPY 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.