SPY vs WLDR
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Simplify Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF
Which is better, SPY or WLDR?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, WLDR over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | WLDR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.67% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $98M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.26% |
| Holdings | 505 | 117 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +32.33%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.48% | +43.90%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62% | +31.94%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73% | +19.13%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4%Best | 18.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -47.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205 | $23,994Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Simplify Exchange Traded Funds |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Jan 16, 2018 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2018 to Sep 10, 2026 (8.6 years).
SPY vs WLDR 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 8.6 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WLDR Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Simplify Affinity World Leaders Equity ETF (WLDR) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds. Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while WLDR returned +43.90%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 32.33% for WLDR.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +31.94% for WLDR; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +19.13% respectively. Across the full 9-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.19% annualized vs +11.57%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WLDR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 16.4% 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 -47.1% for WLDR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WLDR charges 0.67%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $67 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.26% for WLDR.
Holdings Overlap
7.5% of SPY's money is in holdings WLDR also owns. 67.7% of WLDR's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
52 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 112 in WLDR, against full books of 505 and 117.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for WLDR that do not appear in our book for SPY (6.3% of the fund), and 442 for SPY that do not appear in WLDR (92.0%).
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 WLDR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 6.81% | 5.30% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc. | 0.20% | 7.73% | 7.53% |
| STXSeagate Technology Plc | 0.28% | 5.42% | 5.14% |
| HPQHp Inc. | 0.04% | 4.69% | 4.65% |
| JBLJabil, Inc. | 0.05% | 3.40% | 3.35% |
| VZVerizon Communications, Inc. | 0.29% | 2.39% | 2.10% |
| OMCOmnicom Group Inc. | 0.04% | 2.49% | 2.45% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 0.92% | 1.47% | 0.55% |
| TAt&t, Inc. | 0.24% | 2.11% | 1.87% |
| TGTTarget Corp. | 0.10% | 1.60% | 1.50% |
67.7% of WLDR 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 WLDR?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WLDR charges 0.67%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WLDR?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +43.90% for WLDR, so WLDR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (9 years), SPY annualized +13.19% vs +11.57% for WLDR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WLDR?
WLDR has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs WLDR -47.1%.
Should I hold both SPY and WLDR?
SPY and WLDR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 WLDR?
67.7% of WLDR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 67.7% of WLDR's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 52 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 112 in WLDR.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or WLDR?
SPY yields 0.98% while WLDR yields 1.26%, so WLDR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WLDR better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over the full window, WLDR over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.