VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L

Last updated Jul 18, 2026

VUAA.L (Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation) and SPX5.L (SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF) are both S&P 500 funds - VUAA.L tracks the S&P 500 Net Total Return while SPX5.L tracks the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VUAA.L returned 12.77%/yr vs 12.81%/yr for SPX5.L. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VUAA.L charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for SPX5.L.

Performance

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation (VUAA.L) and SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (SPX5.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VUAA.L is traded in USD, while SPX5.L is traded in GBP. To make them comparable, the SPX5.L values have been converted to USD using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VUAA.L having a 8.97% return and SPX5.L slightly higher at 9.00%.

VUAA.L

• 1D: -1.26%
• 1M: -0.55%
• 6M: 7.99%
• YTD: 8.97%
• 1Y: 19.97%
• 3Y*: 19.38%
• 5Y*: 12.77%
• 10Y*: —

SPX5.L

• 1D: -1.20%
• 1M: 0.25%
• 6M: 8.09%
• YTD: 9.00%
• 1Y: 19.95%
• 3Y*: 19.52%
• 5Y*: 12.81%
• 10Y*: 14.62%

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

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VUAA.L Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation	8.97%	17.37%	25.27%	26.68%	-18.63%	29.34%	18.04%	14.82%
SPX5.L SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF	9.00%	17.59%	25.34%	26.07%	-18.73%	29.78%	17.00%	16.17%

Correlation

The correlation between VUAA.L and SPX5.L is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.92
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.92
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.93
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 14, 2019	0.93

The correlation between VUAA.L and SPX5.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.93 - a consistent structural relationship.

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VUAA.L	SPX5.L
Technology	39.1%	39.1%
Financial Services	10.9%	11.1%
Communication Services	10.7%	10.8%
Consumer Cyclical	9.9%	9.9%
Healthcare	8.3%	8.4%
Industrials	7.8%	7.8%
Consumer Defensive	4.5%	4.5%
Energy	3.1%	3.2%
Utilities	2.1%	2.1%
Real Estate	1.8%	1.8%
Basic Materials	1.7%	1.3%

Return for Risk

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

VUAA.L

VUAA.L Risk / Return Rank: 64
VUAA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 62
VUAA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 67
VUAA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 60
VUAA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 61
VUAA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 69

SPX5.L

SPX5.L Risk / Return Rank: 70
SPX5.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 70
SPX5.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 68
SPX5.L Omega Ratio Rank: 70
SPX5.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
SPX5.L Martin Ratio Rank: 70

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.

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation (VUAA.L) and SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (SPX5.L). 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.

	VUAA.L	SPX5.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.65	1.72	-0.07
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.48	2.51	-0.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.30	-0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.43	2.30	+0.13
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.79	9.36	+0.43

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VUAA.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.65, which is comparable to the SPX5.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.72. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VUAA.L and SPX5.L, 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

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VUAA.L drawdown since its inception was -34.05%, smaller than the maximum SPX5.L drawdown of -42.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUAA.L and SPX5.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VUAA.L	SPX5.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.05%	-42.43%	+8.38%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.18%	-8.64%	+0.46%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-18.39%	-18.43%	+0.04%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-24.36%	-25.18%	+0.82%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-33.47%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.76%	-1.68%	-0.08%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-5.02%	-7.95%	+2.93%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.04%	2.13%	-0.09%

Volatility

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation (VUAA.L) is 2.97%, while SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF (SPX5.L) has a volatility of 3.15%. This indicates that VUAA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPX5.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VUAA.L	SPX5.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.97%	3.15%	-0.18%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.31%	8.69%	+0.62%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.11%	11.59%	+0.52%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.07%	15.62%	+0.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.69%	16.03%	+1.66%

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

VUAA.L has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than SPX5.L's 0.03% 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%.

Dividends

VUAA.L vs. SPX5.L - Dividend Comparison

VUAA.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPX5.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.93%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
SPX5.L SPDR S&P 500 UCITS ETF	0.93%	0.98%	1.03%	1.21%	1.39%	0.98%	1.40%	1.48%	0.78%	1.19%	1.49%	1.68%
VUAA.L Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD Accumulation	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.27%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VUAA.L and SPX5.L in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.92, VUAA.L and SPX5.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, VUAA.L or SPX5.L?

On fees, SPX5.L is cheaper at 0.03% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VUAA.L or SPX5.L?

SPX5.L is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.07% for VUAA.L.

What is the main difference between VUAA.L and SPX5.L?

VUAA.L tracks S&P 500 Net Total Return, while SPX5.L tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for VUAA.L and 0.03% for SPX5.L.