SPY vs VRAI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus Real Asset Income ETF
Which is better, SPY or VRAI?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VRAI over 1Y. VRAI is less concentrated, with 12.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | VRAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.55% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $19M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.80% |
| Holdings | 505 | 91 |
| YTD Return | +12.47% | +23.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.51% | +23.10%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18%Best | +12.97% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +6.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 19.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -48.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $13,869 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 12.3%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 7, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 8, 2019 to Sep 11, 2026 (7.6 years).
SPY vs VRAI 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 7.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VRAI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Virtus Real Asset Income ETF (VRAI) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while VRAI returned +23.10%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a gain of 23.71% for VRAI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.18% per year against +12.97% for VRAI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +6.76% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.79% annualized vs +5.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VRAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 16.4% 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 -48.9% for VRAI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VRAI charges 0.55%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $55 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 2.80% for VRAI.
Holdings Overlap
1.3% of SPY's money is in holdings VRAI also owns. 28.0% of VRAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
VRAI and SPY share little of their money.
26 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 90 in VRAI, against full books of 505 and 91.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 55 positions for VRAI that do not appear in our book for SPY (60.8% of the fund), and 469 for SPY that do not appear in VRAI (98.2%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VRAI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 0.11% | 1.12% | 1.01% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 0.09% | 1.11% | 1.02% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 0.08% | 1.10% | 1.02% |
| INVHInvitation Homes Inc | 0.03% | 1.15% | 1.12% |
| WYWeyerhaeuser Co. | 0.03% | 1.15% | 1.12% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 0.13% | 1.03% | 0.90% |
| MOSMosaic Co. | 0.01% | 1.15% | 1.14% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co. Inc. | 0.10% | 1.05% | 0.95% |
| ESEversource Energy | 0.04% | 1.11% | 1.07% |
| ESSEssex Property Trust Inc. | 0.03% | 1.12% | 1.09% |
28.0% of VRAI 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 VRAI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VRAI charges 0.55%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VRAI?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs +23.10% for VRAI, so VRAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), SPY annualized +15.79% vs +5.47% for VRAI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VRAI?
VRAI has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VRAI -48.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and VRAI?
SPY and VRAI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and VRAI?
28.0% of VRAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 28.0% of VRAI's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 26 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 90 in VRAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VRAI?
SPY yields 0.98% while VRAI yields 2.80%, so VRAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VRAI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VRAI over 1Y. VRAI is less concentrated, with 12.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.