SPY vs VTHR
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF
Which is better, SPY or VTHR?
Nearly the same fund. VTHR costs less.
VTHR has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | VTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $6.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.00% |
| Holdings | 505 | 2,990 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +11.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.48%Best | +17.09% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62%Best | +20.23% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73%Best | +11.74% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 14.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -34.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205Best | $17,420 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 20, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 10, 2026 (16 years).
SPY vs VTHR 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 16 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VTHR Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Russell 3000 ETF (VTHR) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while VTHR returned +17.09%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 11.59% for VTHR.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +20.23% for VTHR; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +11.74% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.16% annualized vs +12.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTHR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 14.1% 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 -34.6% for VTHR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. 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 VTHR 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 1.00% for VTHR.
Holdings Overlap
At least 95.5% of SPY's money is in holdings VTHR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTHR, our book for it covers 94.1% 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 VTHR. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
487 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 2,965 in VTHR, against full books of 505 and 2,990.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VTHR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.71% | 6.44% | 1.27% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.83% | 5.77% | 1.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.50% | 3.82% | 1.68% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.08% | 3.19% | 0.89% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.67% | 2.87% | 0.20% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.97% | 2.42% | 0.55% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 1.79% | 0.28% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.38% | 1.69% | 0.31% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway B | 1.42% | 1.28% | 0.14% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.33% | 1.32% | 0.01% |
95.5% of SPY is already inside VTHR.
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 VTHR?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTHR charges 0.06%. VTHR is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VTHR?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +17.09% for VTHR, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPY annualized +13.16% vs +12.96% for VTHR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VTHR?
VTHR has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VTHR -34.6%.
Should I hold both SPY and VTHR?
SPY and VTHR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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 VTHR?
At least 95.5% of SPY's money is in holdings VTHR also owns. Our book for VTHR is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 487 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 2,965 in VTHR.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VTHR?
SPY yields 0.98% while VTHR yields 1.00%, so VTHR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTHR better than SPY?
VTHR has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.