SPY vs VONG
SPY vs VONG
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF
Quick Verdict
VONG has a lower expense ratio. SPY delivered stronger 1-year returns. SPY offers more diversification with 503 holdings.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPY | VONG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.06% | |
| AUM | $789.1B | $44.9B | |
| Dividend Yield | 1.01% | 0.54% | |
| Holdings | 505 | 390 | |
| YTD Return | +13.50% | +5.61% | |
| 1Y Return | +23.56% | +13.42% | |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.17% | +22.13% | |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.46% | +12.77% | |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.9% | |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5% | -32.7% | |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) | |
| Category | Equity | Equity | |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | Sep 20, 2010 |
SPY vs VONG Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Russell 1000 Growth ETF (VONG) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPY returned +23.56% while VONG returned +13.42%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.50% versus a gain of 5.61% for VONG.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +21.17% per year against +22.13% for VONG; over five years the annualized figures are +13.46% and +12.77% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VONG has the edge at +15.79% annualized vs +8.85%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VONG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% 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 -32.7% for VONG. 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while VONG charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 1.01% against 0.54% for VONG.
Holdings Overlap
SPY and VONG share 188 holdings out of 701 unique holdings combined, representing a 54.7% weight overlap.
High overlap means holding both may not provide much additional diversification.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in VONG | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | 7.31% | 13.21% | 5.90% |
| AAPL | 7.09% | 11.11% | 4.02% |
| MSFT | 4.43% | 8.68% | 4.25% |
| AMZN | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| AVGO | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| GOOG | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| META | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| TSLA | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| LLY | Pro | Pro | Pro |
| V | Pro | Pro | Pro |
See all 10 holdings SPY shares with VONG Exact weights in each fund and the difference, for every overlapping position. Get FundXLS Pro: $29/moFirst 500 subscribers, then $49/mo. Cancel anytime. | |||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPY or VONG?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VONG charges 0.06%. VONG is the cheaper option. On a $10,000 investment, that is $3 per year of difference.
Which performed better, SPY or VONG?
Over the past year SPY returned +23.56% vs +13.42% for VONG, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPY annualized +8.85% vs +15.79% for VONG. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Which is riskier, SPY or VONG?
VONG has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs VONG -32.7%.
Should I hold both SPY and VONG?
SPY and VONG have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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 SPY and VONG?
SPY and VONG share 188 common holdings with a 54.7% weight overlap. Combined, they hold 701 unique securities.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or VONG?
SPY yields 1.01% while VONG yields 0.54%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
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