SPY vs VIOG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard S&P Small Cap 600 Growth ETF
Which is better, SPY or VIOG?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VIOG is less concentrated, with 9.9% 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 | VIOG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.10% |
| AUM | $811.2B | $1.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.78% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 353 |
| YTD Return | +13.54% | +15.22%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.25%Best | +16.10% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.72%Best | +16.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.95%Best | +5.60% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 18.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -42.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,212Best | $13,132 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2% | 9.9%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Oct 2, 2026 (16.1 years).
SPY vs VIOG 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 16.1 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VIOG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard S&P Small Cap 600 Growth ETF (VIOG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% while VIOG returned +16.10%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.54% versus a gain of 15.22% for VIOG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +23.72% per year against +16.29% for VIOG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.95% and +5.60% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.36% annualized vs +11.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VIOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.4% compared with 14.1% 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 -42.8% for VIOG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VIOG charges 0.10%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $10 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.78% for VIOG.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 352 in VIOG, totalling 99.8% and 99.8% 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 352 in VIOG, against full books of 1,515 and 353.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 342 positions for VIOG that do not appear in our book for SPY (97.0% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in VIOG (99.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VIOG 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 VIOG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VIOG charges 0.10%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VIOG?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% vs +16.10% for VIOG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPY annualized +13.36% vs +11.75% for VIOG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VIOG?
VIOG has been the more volatile fund at 18.4% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VIOG -42.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and VIOG?
SPY and VIOG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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 VIOG?
SPY yields 0.98% while VIOG yields 0.78%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VIOG better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VIOG is less concentrated, with 9.9% 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.