SPY vs VEGI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs iShares MSCI Agriculture Producers ETF
Which is better, SPY or VEGI?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VEGI over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.8%.
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 | VEGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.39% |
| AUM | $811.2B | $172M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.82% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 156 |
| YTD Return | +12.70% | +16.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.53% | +18.91%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.86%Best | +8.79% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.47%Best | +4.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0%Best | 16.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -39.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,811Best | $12,654 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2%Best | 67.8% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 31, 2012 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2012 to Oct 1, 2026 (14.7 years).
SPY vs VEGI 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 14.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VEGI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares MSCI Agriculture Producers ETF (VEGI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +15.53% while VEGI returned +18.91%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.70% versus a gain of 16.45% for VEGI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.86% per year against +8.79% for VEGI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.47% and +4.82% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.27% annualized vs +4.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VEGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 14.0% 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 -39.7% for VEGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VEGI charges 0.39%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $39 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.82% for VEGI.
Holdings Overlap
0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings VEGI also owns. 54.0% of VEGI's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
6 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 125 in VEGI, against full books of 1,515 and 156.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 14 positions for VEGI that do not appear in our book for SPY (9.2% of the fund), and 491 for SPY that do not appear in VEGI (98.8%).
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.
54.0% of VEGI 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 VEGI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VEGI charges 0.39%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VEGI?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.53% vs +18.91% for VEGI, so VEGI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SPY annualized +13.27% vs +4.75% for VEGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VEGI?
VEGI has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 14.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VEGI -39.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and VEGI?
SPY and VEGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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 VEGI?
54.0% of VEGI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 54.0% of VEGI'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 125 in VEGI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VEGI?
SPY yields 0.98% while VEGI yields 1.82%, so VEGI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VEGI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VEGI over 1Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.