SPY vs VYMI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, SPY or VYMI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYMI has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 5Y and the full window, VYMI over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.07%Best |
| AUM | $811.2B | $21.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 3.43% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 1,636 |
| YTD Return | +13.54% | +13.67%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.25% | +23.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.72% | +23.82%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.95%Best | +13.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -45.2% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,212Best | $19,010 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Feb 25, 2016 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 2, 2016 to Oct 2, 2026 (10.6 years).
SPY vs VYMI 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 10.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs VYMI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (VYMI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% while VYMI returned +23.08%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.54% versus a gain of 13.67% for VYMI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +23.72% per year against +23.82% for VYMI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.95% and +13.71% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.46% annualized vs +9.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.8% for VYMI. 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 -45.2% for VYMI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VYMI charges 0.07%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $7 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 3.43% for VYMI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings VYMI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VYMI, our book for it covers 93.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 1,133 in VYMI, against full books of 1,515 and 1,636.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VYMI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.06% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPY and VYMI 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 VYMI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VYMI charges 0.07%. VYMI is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or VYMI?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.25% vs +23.08% for VYMI, so VYMI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), SPY annualized +14.46% vs +9.13% for VYMI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or VYMI?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.8% for VYMI. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs VYMI -45.2%.
Should I hold both SPY and VYMI?
SPY and VYMI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 VYMI?
SPY yields 0.98% while VYMI yields 3.43%, so VYMI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYMI better than SPY?
VYMI has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 5Y and the full window, VYMI over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.