VFWAX vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
VFWAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Sep 27, 2011. 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: VFWAX or SPY.
Key characteristics
| VFWAX | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 10.14% | 19.22% |
| 1Y Return | 17.02% | 28.25% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 2.28% | 9.99% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 6.95% | 15.19% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 4.81% | 12.84% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.39 | 2.25 |
| Daily Std Dev | 12.10% | 12.59% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.93% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -0.91% | -0.32% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFWAX and SPY is 0.82, 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
VFWAX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VFWAX achieves a 10.14% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 19.22% return. Over the past 10 years, VFWAX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 4.81%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.84% 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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VFWAX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFWAX has a 0.11% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% 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
VFWAX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) 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
VFWAX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
VFWAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.45%, more than SPY's 0.93% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFWAX Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares | 2.45% | 3.28% | 3.07% | 3.03% | 1.97% | 3.07% | 3.24% | 2.67% | 2.96% | 2.95% | 3.53% | 2.68% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 0.93% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
VFWAX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFWAX drawdown since its inception was -34.93%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFWAX and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VFWAX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund Admiral Shares (VFWAX) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 3.91% and 3.94%, 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.