SPY vs SPLG: returns, risk and drawdowns compared
SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust against SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF, over the same 6 years (July 2020 to July 2026) with dividends reinvested.
Data updated July 2026
From July 2020 to July 2026, SPY returned 17.2% a year and SPLG 17.2% a year on average, so SPY came out ahead by 0.0% a year. SPLG was the more volatile of the two (15.7% against 15.6% a year), and the deepest falls from a month-end high were 23.9% for SPY and 23.9% for SPLG.
The correlation of monthly returns was 1.00: they moved almost in lockstep. Over 38 rolling 3-year periods, SPY did better in 5% and SPLG in 95%.
Both funds follow the same index, so differences come mostly from ongoing charges, tracking and how dividends are handled.
Side by side
| SPY | SPLG | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return (CAGR) | +17.2% | +17.2% |
| Total return | +163% | +163% |
| Annual volatility | 15.6% | 15.7% |
| Maximum drawdown (month-end) | −23.9% | −23.9% |
| Worst month | −9.2% | −9.3% |
| Best month | +10.9% | +10.8% |
| Positive months | 66% | 66% |
| Best year | 2021: +28.7% | 2021: +28.8% |
| Worst year | 2022: −18.2% | 2022: −18.1% |
| 1-year return | +16.6% | +19.8% |
| 5 years, a year | +12.7% | +13.1% |
| 10 years, a year | +15.4% | — |
| Trading currency | USD | USD |
First nine rows: the same 73 months for both funds. Trailing returns: to each fund’s last close.
Growth of 10,000: SPY vs SPLG
Returns by calendar year
| Year | SPY | SPLG |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +17.7% | +17.8% |
| 2024 | +24.9% | +25.0% |
| 2023 | +26.2% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −18.2% | −18.1% |
| 2021 | +28.7% | +28.8% |
How the figures are calculated
Total return in the fund’s trading currency, from end-of-day prices with dividends reinvested on the ex-date. The fund’s own ongoing charges are already reflected in its price; trading costs, taxes and currency conversion are not included. Past returns do not predict future returns.
The comparison uses only the months in which both funds have prices, so the figures cover the same period even when one fund is older.
Questions
Which has returned more, SPY or SPLG?
From July 2020 to July 2026, SPY returned +17.2% a year and SPLG +17.2% a year, with dividends reinvested. Over rolling 3-year periods SPY did better in 5% of cases. Past returns do not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, SPY or SPLG?
Over the same months annual volatility was 15.6% for SPY and 15.7% for SPLG; the deepest fall from a month-end high was 23.9% and 23.9%, and the worst single month −9.2% and −9.3%.
How correlated are SPY and SPLG?
The correlation of their monthly returns was 1.00: they moved almost in lockstep. Holding both adds little diversification compared with holding one.
More comparisons
Source: MarketStack end-of-day prices, total return with dividends reinvested. Figures are historical and descriptive; they are not forecasts and not investment advice. MEDGE Capital does not recommend buying or selling any instrument. Risk disclaimer.