SPY vs VGHY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard High-Yield Active ETF
Which is better, SPY or VGHY?
Large Cap Blend against High Yield Bond.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y.
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 | VGHY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.22% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $307M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 5.01% |
| Holdings | 505 | 608 |
| YTD Return | +11.52%Best | -2.28% |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | -0.55% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.3% | 2.7%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | High Yield Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 27, 2025 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
SPY vs VGHY 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 VGHY Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard High-Yield Active ETF (VGHY) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while VGHY returned -0.55%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a loss of 2.28% for VGHY.
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 2.7% for VGHY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VGHY charges 0.22%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $22 annually, a gap of $13 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 5.01% for VGHY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 26 in VGHY, totalling 100.0% and 3.4% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 26 in VGHY, against full books of 505 and 608.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VGHY 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 VGHY?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VGHY charges 0.22%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $13 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VGHY?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs -0.55% for VGHY, 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 VGHY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.3% annualized versus 2.7% for VGHY.
Should I hold both SPY and VGHY?
SPY and VGHY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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 VGHY?
SPY yields 0.98% while VGHY yields 5.01%, so VGHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGHY better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.