SPY vs VONG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Which is better, SPY or VONG?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VONG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 5Y, VONG over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%.
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 | VONG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $51.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.46% |
| Holdings | 505 | 373 |
| YTD Return | +11.97%Best | +3.04% |
| 1Y Return | +16.40%Best | +4.91% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.10% | +21.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +11.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -32.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $17,506 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 54.3% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 20, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 14, 2026 (16 years).
SPY vs VONG 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 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VONG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.40% while VONG returned +4.91%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.97% versus a gain of 3.04% for VONG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.10% per year against +21.33% for VONG; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +11.85% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VONG has the edge at +15.49% annualized vs +13.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VONG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% 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 -32.7% for VONG. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. 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 VONG charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.46% for VONG.
Holdings Overlap
65.8% of SPY's money is in holdings VONG also owns. 93.2% of VONG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of VONG is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, SPY as of Sep 1, 2026 and VONG as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
176 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 371 in VONG, against full books of 505 and 373.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 138 positions for VONG that do not appear in our book for SPY (6.2% of the fund), and 321 for SPY that do not appear in VONG (33.6%).
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 VONG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 13.81% | 5.80% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 6.71% | 0.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 4.10% | 1.56% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 6.16% | 3.17% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 5.20% | 2.54% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.39% | 4.97% | 2.58% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 3.85% | 2.25% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.52% | 3.64% | 2.12% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.93% | 3.00% | 1.07% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 0.57% | 3.22% |
93.2% of VONG 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 VONG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VONG charges 0.06%. VONG is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VONG?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.40% vs +4.91% for VONG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPY annualized +13.17% vs +15.49% for VONG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VONG?
VONG has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VONG -32.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and VONG?
SPY and VONG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 VONG?
93.2% of VONG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 93.2% of VONG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 176 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 371 in VONG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VONG?
SPY yields 0.98% while VONG yields 0.46%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VONG better than SPY?
VONG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 5Y, VONG over 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.