VHYL.L vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

VHYL.L (Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VHYL.L is a Dividend fund tracking the FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield Index, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VHYL.L returned 11.06%/yr vs 16.02%/yr for SPY. A 0.55 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VHYL.L charges 0.29%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing (VHYL.L) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VHYL.L is traded in GBP, while SPY is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the SPY values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VHYL.L achieves a 12.68% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's 9.63% return. Over the past 10 years, VHYL.L has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 11.06%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 16.02% annualized return.

VHYL.L

• 1D: 1.53%
• 1M: 3.44%
• YTD: 12.68%
• 6M: 13.55%
• 1Y: 28.52%
• 3Y*: 16.13%
• 5Y*: 11.89%
• 10Y*: 11.06%

SPY

• 1D: 0.63%
• 1M: 0.80%
• YTD: 9.63%
• 6M: 9.15%
• 1Y: 26.24%
• 3Y*: 18.42%
• 5Y*: 14.53%
• 10Y*: 16.02%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VHYL.L Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing	12.68%	18.23%	11.22%	5.25%	5.95%	19.23%	-3.53%	17.00%	-6.59%	8.80%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	9.63%	9.33%	27.07%	19.87%	-8.45%	29.95%	14.86%	26.23%	1.09%	11.18%

Correlation

The correlation between VHYL.L and SPY is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.45
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.39
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.40
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.51
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 21, 2013	0.55

The correlation between VHYL.L and SPY shifts across timeframes, from 0.39 (3 years) to 0.55 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Return for Risk

VHYL.L vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VHYL.L

VHYL.L Risk / Return Rank: 90
VHYL.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 94
VHYL.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 94
VHYL.L Omega Ratio Rank: 94
VHYL.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
VHYL.L Martin Ratio Rank: 82

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 70
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 71
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 76

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing (VHYL.L) 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	VHYL.L	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.25	2.25	+1.00
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	4.38	2.89	+1.49
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.62	1.42	+0.20
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.08	3.43	+0.66
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.75	12.92	+1.83

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VHYL.L Sharpe Ratio is 3.25, which is higher than the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.25. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VHYL.L and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VHYL.L drawdown since its inception was -27.87%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -34.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VHYL.L and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	VHYL.L	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-27.87%	-34.68%	+6.81%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.95%	-7.69%	+0.74%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.79%	-21.94%	+9.15%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-12.79%	-21.94%	+9.15%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-27.87%	-25.78%	-2.09%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-1.89%	+1.89%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.61%	-4.78%	+1.17%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.93%	2.04%	-0.11%

Volatility

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing (VHYL.L) is 2.33%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.95%. This indicates that VHYL.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VHYL.L	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.33%	3.95%	-1.62%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.99%	8.67%	-1.68%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.75%	11.73%	-2.98%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	10.78%	16.07%	-5.29%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	13.07%	18.04%	-4.97%

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

VHYL.L has a 0.29% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.

Dividends

VHYL.L vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

VHYL.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.46%, more than SPY's 1.00% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	1.00%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%
VHYL.L Vanguard FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield UCITS ETF USD Distributing	2.46%	2.79%	3.08%	3.37%	3.67%	3.08%	3.28%	3.34%	3.63%	3.09%	2.88%	3.20%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VHYL.L and SPY in my portfolio?

VHYL.L and SPY have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VHYL.L or SPY?

On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VHYL.L or SPY?

SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.29% for VHYL.L.

What is the main difference between VHYL.L and SPY?

VHYL.L is categorized as Dividend, while SPY is S&P 500. VHYL.L tracks FTSE All-World High Dividend Yield Index, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.29% for VHYL.L and 0.09% for SPY.