SPY vs VUS
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus US Dividend ETF
Quick Verdict
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY offers more diversification with 503 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPY | VUS | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.25% | |
| AUM | $789.1B | $18M | |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.74% | |
| Holdings | 505 | 95 | |
| YTD Return | +13.75% | +20.76% | |
| 1Y Return | +22.91% | - | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.67% | - | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.32% | - | |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | - | |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -9.4% | |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners | |
| Category | Equity | Equity | |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 2, 2025 |
SPY vs VUS Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Virtus US Dividend ETF (VUS) is a ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Year to date, SPY is up 13.75% versus a gain of 20.76% for VUS.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -56.5% for SPY and -9.4% for VUS. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VUS charges 0.25%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $25 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 0.74% for VUS.
Holdings Overlap
SPY and VUS share 51 holdings out of 546 unique holdings combined, representing a 36.8% weight overlap.
Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or VUS?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VUS charges 0.25%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $16 per year of difference.
What is the holdings overlap between SPY and VUS?
SPY and VUS share 51 common holdings with a 36.8% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 546 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VUS?
SPY yields 1.01% while VUS yields 0.74%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
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