SPY vs VTWG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth ETF
Which is better, SPY or VTWG?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Growth.
VTWG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VTWG over 1Y. VTWG is less concentrated, with 7.0% 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 | VTWG |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06%Best |
| AUM | $804.7B | $1.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.61% |
| Holdings | 505 | 1,138 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +12.04%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.48% | +18.76%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62%Best | +16.74% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73%Best | +4.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 20.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -42.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205Best | $12,600 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 7.0%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 20, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2010 to Sep 10, 2026 (16 years).
SPY vs VTWG 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 VTWG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth ETF (VTWG) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while VTWG returned +18.76%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 12.04% for VTWG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +16.74% for VTWG; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +4.73% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.16% annualized vs +11.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% 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 -42.1% for VTWG. 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 VTWG 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 0.61% for VTWG.
Holdings Overlap
2.1% of SPY's money is in holdings VTWG also owns. 0.1% of VTWG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
SPY and VTWG share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,123 in VTWG, against full books of 505 and 1,138.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 919 positions for VTWG that do not appear in our book for SPY (95.3% of the fund), and 492 for SPY that do not appear in VTWG (97.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VTWG 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 VTWG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTWG charges 0.06%. VTWG is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VTWG?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +18.76% for VTWG, so VTWG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPY annualized +13.16% vs +11.03% for VTWG. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VTWG?
VTWG has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VTWG -42.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and VTWG?
SPY and VTWG 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.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and VTWG?
2.1% of SPY's money is in holdings VTWG also owns. 0.1% of VTWG's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,123 in VTWG.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VTWG?
SPY yields 0.98% while VTWG yields 0.61%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTWG better than SPY?
VTWG has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VTWG over 1Y. VTWG is less concentrated, with 7.0% 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.