GFFFX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
GFFFX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on Dec 1, 1973. 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.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: GFFFX or SPY.
Key characteristics
| GFFFX | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 9.79% | 7.90% |
| 1Y Return | 37.51% | 28.03% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 5.66% | 8.75% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 13.47% | 13.52% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 13.36% | 12.62% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.57 | 2.33 |
| Daily Std Dev | 14.23% | 11.63% |
| Max Drawdown | -44.33% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -2.87% | -2.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between GFFFX and SPY is 0.94, 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
GFFFX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GFFFX achieves a 9.79% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's 7.90% return. Over the past 10 years, GFFFX has outperformed SPY with an annualized return of 13.36%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively lower 12.62% annualized 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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GFFFX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
GFFFX has a 0.40% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GFFFX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) 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
GFFFX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
GFFFX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.96%, more than SPY's 1.31% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GFFFX American Funds The Growth Fund of America | 6.96% | 7.64% | 4.32% | 8.42% | 4.51% | 7.38% | 12.29% | 7.27% | 6.87% | 9.13% | 10.90% | 7.53% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.31% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
GFFFX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GFFFX drawdown since its inception was -44.33%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GFFFX and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GFFFX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
American Funds The Growth Fund of America (GFFFX) has a higher volatility of 5.05% compared to SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 4.08%. This indicates that GFFFX'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.