AQWA vs SPY
Global X Clean Water ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AQWA or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.0%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AQWA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $21M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.66% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 90 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -4.13% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | -6.11% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.77% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.62% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -29.4% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,946 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.0% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 8, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 12, 2021 to Oct 14, 2026 (5.5 years).
AQWA vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 5.5 years both funds cover.
AQWA vs SPY Performance
Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AQWA returned -6.11% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, AQWA is down 4.13% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, AQWA compounded at +9.77% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.62% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.54% annualized vs +4.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQWA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 15.2% 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 -29.4% for AQWA and -24.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQWA charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQWA currently yields 1.66% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
27.3% of AQWA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's money is in holdings AQWA also owns.
AQWA and SPY share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in AQWA and 504 in SPY, against full books of 90 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AQWA (98.9% of the fund), and 19 for AQWA that do not appear in SPY (42.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
27.3% of AQWA is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AQWA or SPY?
AQWA has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQWA or SPY?
Over the past year AQWA returned -6.11% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), AQWA annualized +4.60% vs +13.54% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQWA or SPY?
AQWA has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AQWA -29.4% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both AQWA and SPY?
AQWA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AQWA and SPY?
27.3% of AQWA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.2% of SPY's is in holdings AQWA also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in AQWA and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQWA or SPY?
AQWA yields 1.66% while SPY yields 0.99%, so AQWA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AQWA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.