ESG vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about FlexShares STOXX US ESG Select Index Fund (ESG) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
ESG and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ESG is a passively managed fund by Northern Trust that tracks the performance of the STOXX USA ESG Select KPIs Index. It was launched on Jul 13, 2016. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both ESG and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: ESG or SPY.
Key characteristics
| ESG | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 4.69% | 6.58% |
| 1Y Return | 23.19% | 25.57% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 7.17% | 8.08% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 13.14% | 13.25% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.94 | 2.13 |
| Daily Std Dev | 11.47% | 11.60% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.53% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -4.27% | -3.47% |
Correlation
The correlation between ESG and SPY is 0.87, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
ESG vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, ESG achieves a 4.69% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 6.58% return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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ESG vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESG has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
ESG vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for FlexShares STOXX US ESG Select Index Fund (ESG) and 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.
Dividends
ESG vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
ESG's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.09%, less than SPY's 1.33% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESG FlexShares STOXX US ESG Select Index Fund | 1.09% | 1.10% | 1.38% | 1.03% | 1.33% | 1.51% | 1.72% | 1.93% | 0.92% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.33% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
ESG vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESG drawdown since its inception was -32.53%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESG and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
ESG vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for FlexShares STOXX US ESG Select Index Fund (ESG) is 3.48%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 4.03%. This indicates that ESG experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.