SPY vs VDIG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Wellington Dividend Growth Active ETF
Which is better, SPY or VDIG?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.8%.
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 | VDIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.40% |
| AUM | $797.9B | $32M |
| Dividend Yield | 1.00% | 0.12% |
| Holdings | 504 | 43 |
| YTD Return | +11.28%Best | +9.14% |
| 1Y Return | +13.46%Best | +12.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.37% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.54% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3% | 12.2%Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.1%Best | 44.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Nov 14, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
SPY vs VDIG 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 VDIG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Wellington Dividend Growth Active ETF (VDIG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +13.46% while VDIG returned +12.63%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.28% versus a gain of 9.14% for VDIG.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.3% compared with 12.2% for VDIG. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VDIG charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $40 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.00% against 0.12% for VDIG.
Holdings Overlap
30.8% of SPY's money is in holdings VDIG also owns. 86.9% of VDIG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of VDIG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
36 positions in common, counted across the 502 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 42 in VDIG, against full books of 504 and 43.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 2 positions for VDIG that do not appear in our book for SPY (3.7% of the fund), and 464 for SPY that do not appear in VDIG (68.9%).
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 VDIG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.79% | 6.14% | 0.35% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.60% | 3.45% | 4.15% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.82% | 7.81% | 6.99% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.74% | 5.69% | 3.95% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.36% | 4.59% | 2.23% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.39% | 4.54% | 3.15% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.56% | 3.87% | 3.31% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 2.52% | 1.61% | 0.91% |
| BLKBlackrock Funding Inc/De | 0.26% | 3.17% | 2.91% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 0.39% | 2.74% | 2.35% |
86.9% of VDIG 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 VDIG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VDIG charges 0.40%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VDIG?
Over the past year SPY returned +13.46% vs +12.63% for VDIG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VDIG?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 12.2% for VDIG.
Should I hold both SPY and VDIG?
SPY and VDIG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 VDIG?
86.9% of VDIG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 86.9% of VDIG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 502 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 42 in VDIG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VDIG?
SPY yields 1.00% while VDIG yields 0.12%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VDIG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.