BGRO vs SPY

Quick Verdict

SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 503 holdings.

Lower Fees: SPYHigher Returns: SPYMore Diversified: SPY

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricBGROSPYWinner
Expense Ratio0.55%0.09%
AUM$9M$789.1B
Dividend Yield0.03%1.01%
Holdings36505
YTD Return+12.96%+13.10%
1Y Return+16.33%+22.80%
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.98%
5Y Return (annualized)-+13.20%
Volatility (annualized)19.0%15.3%
Max Drawdown-24.9%-56.5%
Fund FamilyBlackRock, Inc. (US)State Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
InceptionJun 4, 2024Jan 22, 1993

BGRO vs SPY Performance

iShares Large Cap Growth Active ETF (BGRO) is a ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year BGRO returned +16.33% while SPY returned +22.80%. Year to date, BGRO is up 12.96% versus a gain of 13.10% for SPY.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

BGRO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% compared with 15.3% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -24.9% for BGRO and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

Fees and Cost Over Time

BGRO charges 0.55% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $9 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGRO currently yields 0.03% against 1.01% for SPY.

Holdings Overlap

37.6%overlap

BGRO and SPY share 28 holdings out of 508 unique holdings combined, representing a 37.6% weight overlap.

Moderate overlap means holding both could provide meaningful diversification benefits.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in BGROWeight in SPYDifference
NVDA13.16%7.31%5.85%
AAPL6.89%7.09%0.20%
AMZN7.64%3.69%3.95%
MSFTProProPro
GOOGLProProPro
AVGOProProPro
METAProProPro
LLYProProPro
PANWProProPro
DDOGProProPro
See all 10 holdings BGRO shares with SPY
Exact weights in each fund and the difference, for every overlapping position.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, BGRO or SPY?

BGRO has an expense ratio of 0.55% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $46 per year of difference.

Which performed better, BGRO or SPY?

Over the past year BGRO returned +16.33% vs +22.80% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BGRO annualized +17.19% vs +8.83% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Which is riskier, BGRO or SPY?

BGRO has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BGRO -24.9% vs SPY -56.5%.

Should I hold both BGRO and SPY?

BGRO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. Holding both adds little diversification - most investors pick one, usually on fees or the specific index tracked.

What is the holdings overlap between BGRO and SPY?

BGRO and SPY share 28 common holdings with a 37.6% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 508 unique securities.

Which pays a higher dividend, BGRO or SPY?

BGRO yields 0.03% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.

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