ESGU vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
ESGU and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ESGU is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA ESG Focus Index. It was launched on Dec 1, 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 ESGU 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: ESGU or SPY.
Key characteristics
| ESGU | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 20.44% | 21.01% |
| 1Y Return | 32.94% | 32.86% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 6.83% | 8.37% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 14.71% | 14.97% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.78 | 2.83 |
| Sortino Ratio | 3.70 | 3.76 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.52 | 1.53 |
| Calmar Ratio | 3.51 | 4.05 |
| Martin Ratio | 18.05 | 18.38 |
| Ulcer Index | 1.90% | 1.85% |
| Daily Std Dev | 12.33% | 12.02% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.87% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -2.55% | -2.53% |
Correlation
The correlation between ESGU and SPY is 0.95, 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
ESGU vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with ESGU having a 20.44% return and SPY slightly higher at 21.01%. 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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ESGU vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESGU has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
ESGU vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) 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
ESGU vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
ESGU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.16%, less than SPY's 1.23% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESGU iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF | 1.16% | 1.43% | 1.58% | 1.06% | 1.27% | 1.32% | 1.81% | 1.82% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.23% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
ESGU vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESGU drawdown since its inception was -33.87%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESGU and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
ESGU vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
iShares ESG MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 3.24% and 3.15%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.