SPY vs VIG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF
Which is better, SPY or VIG?
Nearly the same fund. VIG costs less.
VIG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. VIG is less concentrated, with 33.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | VIG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $811.2B | $112.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.48% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 336 |
| YTD Return | +13.54%Best | +7.84% |
| 1Y Return | +16.25%Best | +10.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.72%Best | +17.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.95%Best | +10.90% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -48.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,212Best | $16,775 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2% | 33.4%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 21, 2006 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 27, 2006 to Oct 2, 2026 (20.4 years).
SPY vs VIG 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 20.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VIG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% while VIG returned +10.10%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.54% versus a gain of 7.84% for VIG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +23.72% per year against +17.33% for VIG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.95% and +10.90% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.46% annualized vs +8.41%.
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 13.2% for VIG. 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 -48.2% for VIG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VIG charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $4 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.48% for VIG.
Holdings Overlap
44.2% of SPY's money is in holdings VIG also owns. 94.8% of VIG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of VIG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
167 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 322 in VIG, against full books of 1,515 and 336.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 133 positions for VIG that do not appear in our book for SPY (4.6% of the fund), and 331 for SPY that do not appear in VIG (55.1%).
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 VIG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.45% | 4.45% | 3.00% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.71% | 4.34% | 1.37% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.48% | 4.63% | 2.15% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.43% | 4.07% | 2.64% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.37% | 3.93% | 2.56% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.04% | 2.78% | 1.74% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.98% | 2.67% | 1.69% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.95% | 2.45% | 1.50% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 0.73% | 2.11% | 1.38% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.71% | 2.00% | 1.29% |
94.8% of VIG 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 VIG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VIG charges 0.04%. VIG is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VIG?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% vs +10.10% for VIG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), SPY annualized +9.46% vs +8.41% for VIG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VIG?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 13.2% for VIG. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs VIG -48.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and VIG?
SPY and VIG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and VIG?
94.8% of VIG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 94.8% of VIG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 167 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 322 in VIG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VIG?
SPY yields 0.98% while VIG yields 1.48%, so VIG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VIG better than SPY?
VIG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. VIG is less concentrated, with 33.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.