VFIAX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
VFIAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000. 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: VFIAX or SPY.
Performance
VFIAX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VFIAX having a 26.21% return and SPY slightly lower at 26.08%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with VFIAX having a 13.16% annualized return and SPY not far behind at 13.10%.
VFIAX
26.21%
1.78%
13.65%
32.34%
15.66%
13.16%
SPY
26.08%
1.77%
13.59%
32.24%
15.62%
13.10%
Key characteristics
| VFIAX | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.69 | 2.70 |
| Sortino Ratio | 3.58 | 3.60 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.50 | 1.50 |
| Calmar Ratio | 3.89 | 3.90 |
| Martin Ratio | 17.49 | 17.52 |
| Ulcer Index | 1.88% | 1.87% |
| Daily Std Dev | 12.24% | 12.14% |
| Max Drawdown | -55.20% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.81% | -0.85% |
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
VFIAX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFIAX has a 0.04% expense ratio, which is lower than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Correlation
The correlation between VFIAX and SPY is 0.98, 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.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VFIAX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) 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
VFIAX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
VFIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.23%, more than SPY's 1.18% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFIAX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.23% | 1.45% | 1.68% | 1.24% | 1.53% | 1.87% | 2.05% | 1.78% | 2.02% | 2.10% | 1.85% | 1.84% |
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
VFIAX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFIAX drawdown since its inception was -55.20%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFIAX and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VFIAX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFIAX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 3.95% and 3.98%, 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.