SPY vs VMO
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust
Which is better, SPY or VMO?
Large Cap Blend against Municipal Bond.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | VMO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 1.86% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $2,934.54 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 7.79% |
| Holdings | 505 | 544 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | +2.08% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | +4.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +9.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37%Best | -1.99% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -60.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,728Best | $9,044 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Tax Preferred |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Municipal Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 24, 1992 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Sep 18, 2026 (30.7 years).
SPY vs VMO 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 VMO Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust (VMO) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while VMO returned +4.63%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a gain of 2.08% for VMO.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +9.41% for VMO; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and -1.99% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.77% annualized vs -0.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.2% for VMO. 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 -60.0% for VMO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.26. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VMO charges 1.86%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $186 annually, a gap of $177 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 7.79% for VMO.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VMO 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 VMO?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VMO charges 1.86%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $177 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VMO?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs +4.63% for VMO, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), SPY annualized +8.77% vs -0.21% for VMO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VMO?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.2% for VMO. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs VMO -60.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and VMO?
SPY and VMO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.26, 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 VMO?
SPY yields 0.98% while VMO yields 7.79%, so VMO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VMO better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.