VWENX vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 7, 2026

VWENX (Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both funds - VWENX is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. VWENX is actively managed, while SPY is passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VWENX returned 10.21%/yr vs 15.16%/yr for SPY. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VWENX charges 0.16%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

VWENX vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VWENX achieves a 6.75% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 8.45% return. Over the past 10 years, VWENX has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 10.21%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 15.16% annualized return.

VWENX

• 1D: 0.29%
• 1M: 1.55%
• YTD: 6.75%
• 6M: 6.93%
• 1Y: 19.99%
• 3Y*: 15.63%
• 5Y*: 8.84%
• 10Y*: 10.21%

SPY

• 1D: -2.58%
• 1M: -0.01%
• YTD: 8.45%
• 6M: 8.18%
• 1Y: 24.51%
• 3Y*: 21.43%
• 5Y*: 13.32%
• 10Y*: 15.16%

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

VWENX vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VWENX Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares	6.75%	16.63%	14.82%	14.40%	-14.31%	19.09%	10.66%	22.61%	-3.35%	14.05%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	8.45%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between VWENX and SPY is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.97
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.96
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.96
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.95
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 15, 2001	0.94

The correlation between VWENX and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.

VWENX vs. SPY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VWENX	SPY
Technology	31.8%	35.9%
Communication Services	12.3%	11.3%
Consumer Cyclical	10.9%	10.3%
Financial Services	10.6%	11.8%
Healthcare	9.8%	8.4%
Industrials	8.5%	7.8%
Consumer Defensive	4.4%	4.8%
Energy	4.4%	3.6%
Real Estate	2.6%	1.9%
Utilities	2.5%	2.4%
Basic Materials	2.1%	1.8%

Return for Risk

VWENX vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

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

VWENX

VWENX Risk / Return Rank: 72
VWENX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 74
VWENX Sortino Ratio Rank: 71
VWENX Omega Ratio Rank: 70
VWENX Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
VWENX Martin Ratio Rank: 78

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 66
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 63
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 66
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 60
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 73

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.

VWENX vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX) 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.

	VWENX	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.43	2.14	+0.29
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.42	2.88	+0.54
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.45	1.39	+0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.02	2.92	+0.10
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	14.00	13.50	+0.50
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VWENX vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VWENX Sharpe Ratio is 2.43, which is comparable to the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.14. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VWENX 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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VWENX	SPY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.43	2.14	+0.29
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.80	0.78	+0.01
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.89	0.85	+0.04
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.68	0.58	+0.10

Drawdowns

VWENX vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VWENX drawdown since its inception was -36.02%, smaller than the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWENX and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	VWENX	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-36.02%	-55.19%	+19.17%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.77%	-8.88%	+2.11%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.98%	-18.76%	+6.78%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.84%	-24.50%	+3.66%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.33%	-33.72%	+8.39%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.38%	-2.90%	+2.52%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.36%	-9.05%	+4.69%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	1.46%	1.91%	-0.45%

Volatility

VWENX vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares (VWENX) is 2.60%, while State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.73%. This indicates that VWENX 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

	VWENX	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.60%	3.73%	-1.13%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	6.68%	9.31%	-2.63%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	8.42%	12.12%	-3.70%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.14%	17.09%	-5.95%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	11.53%	17.95%	-6.42%

VWENX vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

VWENX has a 0.16% 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%.

Dividends

VWENX vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

VWENX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.88%, 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%
VWENX Vanguard Wellington Fund Admiral Shares	10.88%	11.55%	10.85%	6.08%	8.28%	8.72%	7.85%	4.74%	9.58%	5.88%	4.53%	6.58%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VWENX and SPY in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.97, VWENX and SPY 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 is riskier, VWENX or SPY?

SPY has higher volatility (3.73%) compared to VWENX (2.60%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWENX dropped -36.02% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

VWENX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.43 vs 2.14), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.