GWPAX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) and State Street 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.
Performance
GWPAX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
GWPAX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | -5.63% | 20.47% | 20.17% | 28.76% | -26.97% | 18.59% | 25.34% | 27.19% | -6.59% | 25.12% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | -3.65% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GWPAX achieves a -5.63% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's -3.65% return. Over the past 10 years, GWPAX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.87%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 14.06% annualized return.
GWPAX
- 1D
- 3.37%
- 1M
- -6.92%
- YTD
- -5.63%
- 6M
- -3.30%
- 1Y
- 19.12%
- 3Y*
- 17.31%
- 5Y*
- 7.65%
- 10Y*
- 11.87%
SPY
- 1D
- 0.75%
- 1M
- -4.28%
- YTD
- -3.65%
- 6M
- -1.42%
- 1Y
- 18.14%
- 3Y*
- 18.48%
- 5Y*
- 11.86%
- 10Y*
- 14.06%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
GWPAX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
GWPAX has a 0.73% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
GWPAX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
GWPAX
SPY
GWPAX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) and State Street 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.
| GWPAX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.05 | 0.96 | +0.10 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.60 | 1.49 | +0.11 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.23 | 0.00 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.65 | 1.53 | +0.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.68 | 7.27 | -0.59 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GWPAX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.05 | 0.96 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.42 | 0.70 | -0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 | 0.79 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.68 | 0.56 | +0.12 |
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.
Dividends
GWPAX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
GWPAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.09%, more than SPY's 1.13% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GWPAX American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A | 6.09% | 5.75% | 5.83% | 1.61% | 9.94% | 3.42% | 3.42% | 5.77% | 6.19% | 3.39% | 4.36% | 4.84% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.13% | 1.07% | 1.21% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% |
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.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| GWPAX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.15% | -55.19% | +21.04% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.78% | -12.05% | +0.27% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.15% | -24.50% | -9.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.15% | -33.72% | -0.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.81% | -5.53% | -3.28% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.77% | -9.09% | +3.32% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.91% | 2.54% | +0.37% |
Volatility
GWPAX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
American Funds Growth Portfolio Class A (GWPAX) has a higher volatility of 6.61% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 5.35%. 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.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| GWPAX | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.61% | 5.35% | +1.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.28% | 9.50% | +1.78% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.89% | 19.06% | -0.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.17% | 17.06% | +1.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.95% | 17.92% | +0.03% |