SPY vs VT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Total World Stock ETF
Which is better, SPY or VT?
Nearly the same fund. VT costs less.
VT has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VT over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
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 | VT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $97.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.55% |
| Holdings | 505 | 10,133 |
| YTD Return | +12.47% | +13.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.51% | +18.91%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.18%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.88%Best | +10.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6%Best | 16.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -47.9%Best | -50.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,327Best | $16,639 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jun 24, 2008 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 26, 2008 to Sep 11, 2026 (18.2 years).
SPY vs VT 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 18.2 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VT Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% while VT returned +18.91%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.47% versus a gain of 13.23% for VT.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.18% per year against +20.48% for VT; over five years the annualized figures are +12.88% and +10.72% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +10.75% annualized vs +7.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 15.6% 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 -47.9% for SPY and -50.6% for VT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. 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 VT 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 1.55% for VT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 94.3% of SPY's money is in holdings VT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VT, our book for it covers 89.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of SPY is already inside VT. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
475 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 9,267 in VT, against full books of 505 and 10,133.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.71% | 4.00% | 3.71% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.83% | 3.59% | 3.24% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 2.38% | 3.12% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.08% | 1.98% | 2.10% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.97% | 1.51% | 1.46% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.67% | 1.81% | 0.86% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.12% | 0.39% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.38% | 1.05% | 0.33% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.33% | 0.82% | 0.51% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 1.44% | 0.70% | 0.74% |
94.3% of SPY is already inside VT.
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 VT?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VT charges 0.06%. VT is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VT?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.51% vs +18.91% for VT, so VT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), SPY annualized +10.75% vs +7.28% for VT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VT?
VT has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -47.9% vs VT -50.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and VT?
SPY and VT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 VT?
At least 94.3% of SPY's money is in holdings VT also owns. Our book for VT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 475 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 9,267 in VT.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VT?
SPY yields 0.98% while VT yields 1.55%, so VT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VT better than SPY?
VT has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VT over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.