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 | 21.04% | 26.01% |
| 1Y Return | 30.83% | 33.73% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 3.50% | 9.91% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 12.12% | 15.54% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 10.75% | 13.25% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.29 | 2.82 |
| Sortino Ratio | 3.08 | 3.76 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.41 | 1.53 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.95 | 4.05 |
| Martin Ratio | 14.53 | 18.33 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.14% | 1.86% |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.55% | 12.07% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.15% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -1.82% | -0.90% |
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 21.04% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 26.01% return. Over the past 10 years, GWPAX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 10.75%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 13.25% 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 0.58%, less than SPY's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | 0.58% | 0.70% | 0.35% | 0.03% | 0.44% | 0.84% | 1.00% | 0.70% | 1.01% | 0.73% | 3.99% | 1.36% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.18% | 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) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 3.72% and 3.84%, 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.