SPY vs VNM
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs VanEck Vietnam ETF
Which is better, SPY or VNM?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.5%.
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 | VNM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.66% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $490M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.21% |
| Holdings | 505 | 60 |
| YTD Return | +12.09%Best | -7.74% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Best | -0.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.20%Best | +8.11% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.37%Best | -0.56% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 24.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -62.7% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,728Best | $9,723 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 54.5% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | VanEck |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Aug 11, 2009 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 14, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.1 years).
SPY vs VNM 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 VNM Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and VanEck Vietnam ETF (VNM) is an ETF from VanEck. Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% while VNM returned -0.96%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.09% versus a loss of 7.74% for VNM.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.20% per year against +8.11% for VNM; over five years the annualized figures are +13.37% and -0.56% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs -0.64%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VNM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.1% compared with 14.3% 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 -62.7% for VNM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VNM charges 0.66%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $66 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.21% for VNM.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 56 in VNM, totalling 99.9% and 95.8% 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 56 in VNM, against full books of 505 and 60.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for VNM that do not appear in our book for SPY (0.0% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in VNM (99.3%).
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 VNM 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 VNM?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VNM charges 0.66%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VNM?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.29% vs -0.96% for VNM, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), SPY annualized +13.05% vs -0.64% for VNM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VNM?
VNM has been the more volatile fund at 24.1% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VNM -62.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and VNM?
SPY and VNM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 VNM?
SPY yields 0.98% while VNM yields 0.21%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VNM better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.