SPY vs VGSR
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF
Which is better, SPY or VGSR?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.6%.
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 | VGSR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $531M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.33% |
| Holdings | 505 | 143 |
| YTD Return | +12.47%Best | +8.23% |
| 1Y Return | +17.51%Best | +6.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -18.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $17,410Best | $13,075 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 47.6% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vert Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 31, 2017 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 4, 2023 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.8 years).
SPY vs VGSR 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VGSR Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vert Global Sustainable Real Estate ETF (VGSR) is an ETF from Vert Asset Management. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while VGSR returned +6.34%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a gain of 8.23% for VGSR.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VGSR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 11.8% 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 -18.8% for SPY and -18.3% for VGSR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VGSR charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $45 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.33% for VGSR.
Holdings Overlap
1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings VGSR also owns. 59.7% of VGSR's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 143 in VGSR, against full books of 505 and 143.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 23 positions for VGSR that do not appear in our book for SPY (8.7% of the fund), and 474 for SPY that do not appear in VGSR (98.2%).
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 VGSR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQIXEquinix, Inc. | 0.16% | 5.75% | 5.59% |
| WELLWelltower Inc | 0.25% | 5.26% | 5.01% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 0.11% | 5.21% | 5.10% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.10% | 5.15% | 5.05% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 0.19% | 4.83% | 4.64% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corp | 0.12% | 4.71% | 4.59% |
| EQREquity Residential | 0.03% | 4.54% | 4.51% |
| VTRVentas, Inc. | 0.07% | 4.29% | 4.22% |
| UMG:ASUniversal Music Group N.V. Universal Music Group N V | 0.06% | 3.62% | 3.56% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 0.05% | 2.98% | 2.93% |
59.7% of VGSR 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 VGSR?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VGSR charges 0.45%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VGSR?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs +6.34% for VGSR, 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 VGSR?
VGSR has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 11.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs VGSR -18.3%.
Should I hold both SPY and VGSR?
SPY and VGSR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 VGSR?
59.7% of VGSR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 59.7% of VGSR's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 143 in VGSR.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VGSR?
SPY yields 0.98% while VGSR yields 3.33%, so VGSR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VGSR better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 47.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.