SPY vs WTAI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund ETF
Which is better, SPY or WTAI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. WTAI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.0%.
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 | WTAI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.45% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $704M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.29% |
| Holdings | 505 | 61 |
| YTD Return | +12.99% | +48.16%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.73% | +51.85%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.52% | +36.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.07% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7%Best | 33.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -45.9% |
| $10,000 over 4.8 years | $17,586 | $17,797Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8%Best | 39.0% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | WisdomTree Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Dec 9, 2021 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2021 to Sep 23, 2026 (4.8 years).
SPY vs WTAI 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 4.8 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WTAI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund ETF (WTAI) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments. Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% while WTAI returned +51.85%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.99% versus a gain of 48.16% for WTAI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.52% per year against +36.83% for WTAI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WTAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 33.1% compared with 15.7% 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 -24.5% for SPY and -45.9% for WTAI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WTAI charges 0.45%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $45 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 1.29% for WTAI.
Holdings Overlap
25.2% of SPY's money is in holdings WTAI also owns. 55.7% of WTAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
25 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 50 in WTAI, against full books of 505 and 61.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 8 positions for WTAI that do not appear in our book for SPY (9.7% of the fund), and 472 for SPY that do not appear in WTAI (74.2%).
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 WTAI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.01% | 5.48% | 2.53% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.79% | 4.36% | 0.57% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.60% | 5.00% | 3.40% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.93% | 3.87% | 1.94% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.66% | 3.13% | 0.47% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 0.45% | 3.22% | 2.77% |
| ORCLOracle Corp - Common | 0.36% | 3.02% | 2.66% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.14% | 2.15% | 1.01% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.35% | 2.85% | 2.50% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 0.55% | 2.22% | 1.67% |
55.7% of WTAI 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 WTAI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WTAI charges 0.45%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WTAI?
Over the past year SPY returned +16.73% vs +51.85% for WTAI, so WTAI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WTAI?
WTAI has been the more volatile fund at 33.1% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs WTAI -45.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and WTAI?
SPY and WTAI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 WTAI?
55.7% of WTAI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 55.7% of WTAI's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 50 in WTAI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or WTAI?
SPY yields 0.98% while WTAI yields 1.29%, so WTAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WTAI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. WTAI led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.