State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Small Cap ETF (VB) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +19.50% while VB returned +23.84%. Year to date, SPY is up 9.93% versus a gain of 13.61% for VB.

Over three years, SPY compounded at +19.33% per year against +14.03% for VB; over five years the annualized figures are +12.82% and +7.54% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.74% annualized vs +8.69%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

VB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -61.0% for VB. 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.

SPY charges 0.09% per year while VB charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 1.48% for VB.