SPY vs VSGX
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPY or VSGX?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VSGX over 1Y.
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 | VSGX |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.10% |
| AUM | $814.4B | $6.5B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 2.99% |
| Holdings | 505 | 6,629 |
| YTD Return | +13.78% | +15.44%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.44% | +25.67%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.38%Best | +19.71% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.80%Best | +7.64% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -33.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,262Best | $14,450 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 18, 2018 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2018 to Sep 3, 2026 (8 years).
SPY vs VSGX 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 8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VSGX Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% while VSGX returned +25.67%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.78% versus a gain of 15.44% for VSGX.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.38% per year against +19.71% for VSGX; over five years the annualized figures are +12.80% and +7.64% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.01% annualized vs +8.80%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.8% compared with 16.2% for VSGX. 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 -33.1% for VSGX. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VSGX charges 0.10%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $10 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 2.99% for VSGX.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of SPY's money is in holdings VSGX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VSGX, our book for it covers 91.3% 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 6,204 in VSGX, against full books of 505 and 6,629.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VSGX 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 VSGX?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VSGX charges 0.10%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VSGX?
Over the past year SPY returned +21.44% vs +25.67% for VSGX, so VSGX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), SPY annualized +14.01% vs +8.80% for VSGX. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VSGX?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 16.8% annualized versus 16.2% for VSGX. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VSGX -33.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and VSGX?
SPY and VSGX have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 VSGX?
SPY yields 1.01% while VSGX yields 2.99%, so VSGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSGX better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VSGX over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.