SPY vs VUSE
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vident US Equity Strategy ETF
Which is better, SPY or VUSE?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VUSE is less concentrated, with 27.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | VUSE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $679M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.45% |
| Holdings | 505 | 128 |
| YTD Return | +13.82%Best | +11.21% |
| 1Y Return | +16.96%Best | +9.20% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.97%Best | +16.84% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.73%Best | +12.62% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 17.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -45.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,027Best | $18,117 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 27.4%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vident Financial |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 22, 2014 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 22, 2014 to Sep 21, 2026 (12.7 years).
SPY vs VUSE 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VUSE Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vident US Equity Strategy ETF (VUSE) is an ETF from Vident Financial. Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% while VUSE returned +9.20%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.82% versus a gain of 11.21% for VUSE.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.97% per year against +16.84% for VUSE; over five years the annualized figures are +13.73% and +12.62% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.65% annualized vs +9.30%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VUSE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 14.6% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -45.5% for VUSE. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.91. 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 VUSE charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $50 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.45% for VUSE.
Holdings Overlap
52.9% of SPY's money is in holdings VUSE also owns. 78.4% of VUSE's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of VUSE is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
72 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 123 in VUSE, against full books of 505 and 128.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 50 positions for VUSE that do not appear in our book for SPY (21.0% of the fund), and 425 for SPY that do not appear in VUSE (46.4%).
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 VUSE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 2.70% | 5.31% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.26% | 2.63% | 4.63% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.66% | 2.56% | 3.10% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 2.44% | 1.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.99% | 3.04% | 0.05% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 2.57% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 3.30% | 1.70% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.93% | 2.66% | 0.73% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.40% | 2.92% | 1.52% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.45% | 2.51% | 1.06% |
78.4% of VUSE 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 VUSE?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VUSE charges 0.50%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VUSE?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.96% vs +9.20% for VUSE, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SPY annualized +12.65% vs +9.30% for VUSE. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VUSE?
VUSE has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 14.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VUSE -45.5%.
Should I hold both SPY and VUSE?
SPY and VUSE have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 VUSE?
78.4% of VUSE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 78.4% of VUSE's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 72 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 123 in VUSE.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VUSE?
SPY yields 0.98% while VUSE yields 0.45%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VUSE better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. VUSE is less concentrated, with 27.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.