SPY vs VSLU
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF
Which is better, SPY or VSLU?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, VSLU over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%.
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 | VSLU |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $562M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.42% |
| Holdings | 505 | 591 |
| YTD Return | +12.22%Best | +10.98% |
| 1Y Return | +16.97%Best | +15.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.16% | +21.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.00% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5% | -23.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,424 | $18,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 52.2% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Applied Finance Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Apr 29, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2021 to Sep 17, 2026 (5.4 years).
SPY vs VSLU 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 5.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VSLU Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Applied Finance Valuation Large Cap ETF (VSLU) is an ETF from Applied Finance Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% while VSLU returned +15.05%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.22% versus a gain of 10.98% for VSLU.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.16% per year against +21.35% for VSLU; over five years the annualized figures are +13.00% and +13.50% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.7% for VSLU. 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 -24.5% for SPY and -23.9% for VSLU. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.98. 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 VSLU charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $49 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.42% for VSLU.
Holdings Overlap
67.0% of SPY's money is in holdings VSLU also owns. 95.0% of VSLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of VSLU is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
298 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 457 in VSLU, against full books of 505 and 591.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 146 positions for VSLU that do not appear in our book for SPY (4.5% of the fund), and 201 for SPY that do not appear in VSLU (32.4%).
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 VSLU | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 10.64% | 2.63% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 10.08% | 2.82% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 7.93% | 2.27% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 6.73% | 3.74% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.93% | 3.81% | 1.88% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 2.69% | 0.03% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 3.43% | 2.03% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.94% | 3.11% | 2.17% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 0.71% | 2.34% | 1.63% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 0.99% | 1.29% | 0.30% |
95.0% of VSLU 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 VSLU?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VSLU charges 0.49%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VSLU?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.97% vs +15.05% for VSLU, 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 VSLU?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.7% for VSLU. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs VSLU -23.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and VSLU?
SPY and VSLU have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, 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 VSLU?
95.0% of VSLU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 95.0% of VSLU's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 298 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 457 in VSLU.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VSLU?
SPY yields 0.98% while VSLU yields 0.42%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VSLU better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, VSLU over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.