SPY vs VWID
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Virtus WMC International Dividend ETF
Which is better, SPY or VWID?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, VWID over 1Y. VWID is less concentrated, with 19.1% 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 | VWID |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.49% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $13M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.68% |
| Holdings | 505 | 158 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2%Best | 25.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -52.4% |
| $10,000 over 8.5 years | $28,559Best | $22,744 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 19.1%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Oct 10, 2017 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 163 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPY has data through Sep 18, 2026 and VWID through Apr 8, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 8.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2017 to Apr 8, 2026 (8.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VWID has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.9% compared with 16.2% 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 -52.4% for VWID. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.53. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VWID charges 0.49%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $49 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.68% for VWID.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 504 holdings in SPY and 143 in VWID, totalling 99.9% and 98.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 214 days apart, SPY as of Sep 1, 2026 and VWID as of Jan 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 143 in VWID, against full books of 505 and 158.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for VWID that do not appear in our book for SPY (7.0% of the fund), and 497 for SPY that do not appear in VWID (99.3%).
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 VWID 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 VWID?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VWID charges 0.49%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPY or VWID?
VWID has been the more volatile fund at 25.9% annualized versus 16.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VWID -52.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and VWID?
SPY and VWID have a monthly-return correlation of 0.53, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VWID?
SPY yields 0.98% while VWID yields 3.68%, so VWID currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VWID better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, VWID over 1Y. VWID is less concentrated, with 19.1% 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.