SPY vs. VT
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT).
SPY and VT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. 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. VT is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index. It was launched on Jun 24, 2008. Both SPY and VT 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: SPY or VT.
Key characteristics
| SPY | VT | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 6.58% | 5.03% |
| 1Y Return | 25.57% | 19.80% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 8.08% | 4.09% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 13.25% | 9.60% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 12.38% | 8.38% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.13 | 1.67 |
| Daily Std Dev | 11.60% | 11.60% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.19% | -50.27% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.47% | -2.59% |
Correlation
The correlation between SPY and VT 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
SPY vs. VT - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, SPY achieves a 6.58% return, which is significantly higher than VT's 5.03% return. Over the past 10 years, SPY has outperformed VT with an annualized return of 12.38%, while VT has yielded a comparatively lower 8.38% 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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SPY vs. VT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SPY has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is higher than VT's 0.07% 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
SPY vs. VT - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT). 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
SPY vs. VT - Dividend Comparison
SPY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.33%, less than VT's 2.12% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.33% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | 2.12% | 2.08% | 2.20% | 1.82% | 1.66% | 2.32% | 2.53% | 2.11% | 2.39% | 2.45% | 2.44% | 2.06% |
Drawdowns
SPY vs. VT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SPY drawdown since its inception was -55.19%, which is greater than VT's maximum drawdown of -50.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SPY and VT. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
SPY vs. VT - Volatility Comparison
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) and Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) have volatilities of 4.03% and 3.92%, 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.