SPY vs WWJD
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Inspire International ETF
Which is better, SPY or WWJD?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, WWJD over 1Y. WWJD is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | WWJD |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Best | 0.61% |
| AUM | $804.7B | $582M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.41% |
| Holdings | 505 | 202 |
| YTD Return | +11.52% | +11.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.48% | +18.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.62%Best | +17.17% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.73%Best | +7.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.8%Best | 18.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -35.8% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,205Best | $14,632 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 6.5%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Inspire ETFs |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 30, 2019 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 1, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.9 years).
SPY vs WWJD 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
SPY vs WWJD Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Inspire International ETF (WWJD) is an ETF from Inspire ETFs. Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% while WWJD returned +18.28%. Year to date, SPY is up 11.52% versus a gain of 11.64% for WWJD.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +20.62% per year against +17.17% for WWJD; over five years the annualized figures are +12.73% and +7.91% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.88% annualized vs +11.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
WWJD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 16.8% 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 -34.1% for SPY and -35.8% for WWJD. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while WWJD charges 0.61%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $61 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.98% against 2.41% for WWJD.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings WWJD also owns. 0.9% of WWJD's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 201 in WWJD, against full books of 505 and 202.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 0 positions for WWJD that do not appear in our book for SPY (0.0% of the fund), and 492 for SPY that do not appear in WWJD (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 WWJD 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 WWJD?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while WWJD charges 0.61%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or WWJD?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.48% vs +18.28% for WWJD, so WWJD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), SPY annualized +15.88% vs +11.31% for WWJD. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or WWJD?
WWJD has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 16.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -34.1% vs WWJD -35.8%.
Should I hold both SPY and WWJD?
SPY and WWJD have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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 WWJD?
SPY yields 0.98% while WWJD yields 2.41%, so WWJD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is WWJD better than SPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, WWJD over 1Y. WWJD is less concentrated, with 6.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.