GWPAX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
GWPAX is managed by American Funds. It was launched on May 18, 2012. 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: GWPAX or SPY.
Key characteristics
| GWPAX | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 6.89% | 7.90% |
| 1Y Return | 27.50% | 28.03% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 3.50% | 8.75% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 10.23% | 13.52% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 9.92% | 12.62% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.05 | 2.33 |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.01% | 11.63% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.15% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.01% | -2.27% |
Correlation
The correlation between GWPAX 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
GWPAX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, GWPAX achieves a 6.89% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 7.90% return. Over the past 10 years, GWPAX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 9.92%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 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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GWPAX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
GWPAX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
GWPAX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) 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
GWPAX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
GWPAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.51%, more than SPY's 1.31% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | 1.51% | 1.61% | 9.94% | 3.42% | 3.42% | 5.77% | 6.19% | 3.39% | 4.36% | 4.84% | 3.99% | 1.36% |
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
GWPAX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GWPAX drawdown since its inception was -34.15%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GWPAX and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
GWPAX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) has a higher volatility of 4.62% compared to SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 4.08%. This indicates that GWPAX'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.