SPY vs VPLS
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF
Which is better, SPY or VPLS?
Large Cap Blend against Intermediate Term Bond.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | VPLS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.20% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $1.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 4.81% |
| Holdings | 505 | 3,053 |
| YTD Return | +10.96%Best | -0.85% |
| 1Y Return | +15.52%Best | -0.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.73% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.53% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 4.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.8% | -3.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.8 years | $17,100Best | $11,707 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Fixed Income |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Intermediate Term Bond |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 6, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 7, 2023 to Sep 16, 2026 (2.8 years).
SPY vs VPLS 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 2.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VPLS Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Core-Plus Bond ETF (VPLS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% while VPLS returned -0.23%. Year to date, SPY is up 10.96% versus a loss of 0.85% for VPLS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 4.2% for VPLS. 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 -18.8% for SPY and -3.0% for VPLS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VPLS charges 0.20%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $20 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 4.81% for VPLS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings VPLS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VPLS, our book for it covers 23.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 634 in VPLS, against full books of 505 and 3,053.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VPLS 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 VPLS?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VPLS charges 0.20%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VPLS?
Over the past year SPY returned +15.52% vs -0.23% for VPLS, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VPLS?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 4.2% for VPLS. Worst drawdown: SPY -18.8% vs VPLS -3.0%.
Should I hold both SPY and VPLS?
SPY and VPLS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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 VPLS?
SPY yields 0.98% while VPLS yields 4.81%, so VPLS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VPLS better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.