SPY vs WUGI
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs AXS Esoterica NextG Economy ETF
Which is better, SPY or WUGI?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 5Y, WUGI over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%.
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 | WUGI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.84% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $31M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.24% |
| Holdings | 505 | 34 |
| YTD Return | +12.19% | +18.42%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.53%Best | -2.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.88% | +23.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.69%Best | +8.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8%Best | 28.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -24.5%Best | -56.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,173Best | $14,789 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0%Best | 58.3% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | AXS Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Mar 31, 2020 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 31, 2020 to Sep 9, 2026 (6.4 years).
SPY vs WUGI 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 6.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WUGI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and AXS Esoterica NextG Economy ETF (WUGI) is an ETF from AXS Investments. Over the past year SPY returned +18.53% while WUGI returned -2.46%. Year to date, SPY is up 12.19% versus a gain of 18.42% for WUGI.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.88% per year against +23.97% for WUGI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.69% and +8.14% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, WUGI has the edge at +21.37% annualized vs +19.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WUGI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.7% compared with 15.8% 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 -56.4% for WUGI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WUGI charges 0.84%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $84 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 0.24% for WUGI.
Holdings Overlap
25.8% of SPY's money is in holdings WUGI also owns. 70.8% of WUGI's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
Most of WUGI is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
20 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 31 in WUGI, against full books of 505 and 34.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 7 positions for WUGI that do not appear in our book for SPY (12.0% of the fund), and 474 for SPY that do not appear in WUGI (73.7%).
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 WUGI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.71% | 6.12% | 1.59% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.08% | 5.67% | 1.59% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.51% | 6.92% | 5.41% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.67% | 4.70% | 2.03% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.97% | 4.37% | 1.40% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.65% | 5.94% | 5.29% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 1.27% | 5.10% | 3.83% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 0.29% | 4.76% | 4.47% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 0.72% | 3.70% | 2.98% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.32% | 3.59% | 3.27% |
70.8% of WUGI 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 WUGI?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WUGI charges 0.84%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WUGI?
Over the past year SPY returned +18.53% vs -2.46% for WUGI, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SPY annualized +19.70% vs +21.37% for WUGI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WUGI?
WUGI has been the more volatile fund at 28.7% annualized versus 15.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -24.5% vs WUGI -56.4%.
Should I hold both SPY and WUGI?
SPY and WUGI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 WUGI?
70.8% of WUGI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 70.8% of WUGI's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 20 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 31 in WUGI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or WUGI?
SPY yields 0.98% while WUGI yields 0.24%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WUGI better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and 5Y, WUGI over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.