State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +23.56% while VDE returned +41.79%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.50% versus a gain of 30.05% for VDE.

Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.17% per year against +14.15% for VDE; over five years the annualized figures are +13.46% and +23.79% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.85% annualized vs +6.57%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

VDE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.6% 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 -78.5% for VDE. 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 0.61. They move independently enough that combining them can meaningfully diversify a portfolio.

SPY charges 0.09% per year while VDE charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually, a gap of $0 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 3.43% for VDE.