^W2DOW vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

^W2DOW (Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index) is an index, while SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, ^W2DOW returned 6.87%/yr vs 15.48%/yr for SPY. At a 0.42 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index (^W2DOW) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with ^W2DOW having a 11.45% return and SPY slightly lower at 11.33%. Over the past 10 years, ^W2DOW has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 6.87%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.48% annualized return.

^W2DOW

• 1D: -1.38%
• 1M: 2.57%
• YTD: 11.45%
• 6M: 13.41%
• 1Y: 26.42%
• 3Y*: 16.05%
• 5Y*: 5.33%
• 10Y*: 6.87%

SPY

• 1D: 0.38%
• 1M: 4.60%
• YTD: 11.33%
• 6M: 11.25%
• 1Y: 28.50%
• 3Y*: 22.58%
• 5Y*: 13.91%
• 10Y*: 15.48%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
^W2DOW Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index	11.45%	28.20%	3.13%	12.35%	-18.59%	5.68%	9.26%	18.37%	-16.52%	24.67%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	11.33%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between ^W2DOW and SPY is 0.38, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.38
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.37
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.45
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 1998	0.42

Return for Risk

^W2DOW vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

^W2DOW

^W2DOW Risk / Return Rank: 64
^W2DOW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 67
^W2DOW Sortino Ratio Rank: 70
^W2DOW Omega Ratio Rank: 72
^W2DOW Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
^W2DOW Martin Ratio Rank: 58

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 74
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 76
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 75
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 78

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index (^W2DOW) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	^W2DOW	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.95	2.42	-0.47
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.88	3.29	-0.41
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.38	1.44	-0.05
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.27	3.22	-0.95
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.49	14.99	-6.50
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ^W2DOW Sharpe Ratio is 1.95, which is comparable to the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.42. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ^W2DOW and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	^W2DOW	SPY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.95	2.42	-0.47
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.38	0.82	-0.44
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.41	0.87	-0.46
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.23	0.59	-0.35

Drawdowns

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ^W2DOW drawdown since its inception was -61.60%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^W2DOW and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	^W2DOW	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-61.60%	-55.19%	-6.41%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.18%	-8.88%	-2.30%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.47%	-18.76%	+4.29%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.21%	-24.50%	-7.71%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-43.58%	-33.72%	-9.86%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.58%	-0.33%	-1.25%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-19.33%	-9.05%	-10.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.03%	1.91%	+1.12%

Volatility

^W2DOW vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

Dow Jones Global ex-U.S. Index (^W2DOW) has a higher volatility of 3.71% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 2.79%. This indicates that ^W2DOW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	^W2DOW	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.71%	2.79%	+0.92%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.31%	8.91%	+2.40%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.06%	11.82%	+1.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	13.53%	17.05%	-3.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.89%	17.93%	-3.04%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ^W2DOW and SPY in my portfolio?

^W2DOW and SPY have a correlation of 0.38, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, ^W2DOW or SPY?

^W2DOW has higher volatility (3.71%) compared to SPY (2.79%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^W2DOW dropped -61.60% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.42 vs 1.95), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.