AVUQ vs SPY
Avantis US Quality ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, AVUQ or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUQ led over the full window, SPY over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%.
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 | AVUQ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $430M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.30% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 556 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +12.34% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.77% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.9%Best | -12.4% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $13,661Best | $13,655 |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.4% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Avantis Investors | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 25, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 27, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.5 years).
AVUQ 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
AVUQ vs SPY Performance
Avantis US Quality ETF (AVUQ) is an ETF from Avantis Investors and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year AVUQ returned +14.77% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, AVUQ is up 12.34% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVUQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 11.7% 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 -11.9% for AVUQ and -12.4% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVUQ charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVUQ currently yields 0.30% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
86.7% of AVUQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 66.8% of SPY's money is in holdings AVUQ also owns.
Most of AVUQ is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
175 positions in common, counted across the 550 positions we hold weights for in AVUQ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 556 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 321 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for AVUQ (32.3% of the fund), and 256 for AVUQ that do not appear in SPY (12.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AVUQ | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 10.95% | 7.45% | 3.50% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 10.17% | 7.78% | 2.39% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.90% | 5.71% | 0.81% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.57% | 3.78% | 1.79% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 4.47% | 2.22% | 2.25% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 3.47% | 3.12% | 0.35% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.37% | 1.59% | 2.78% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.99% | 2.48% | 0.51% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C | 2.81% | 2.49% | 0.32% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.69% | 1.37% | 1.32% |
86.7% of AVUQ 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, AVUQ or SPY?
AVUQ has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVUQ or SPY?
Over the past year AVUQ returned +14.77% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AVUQ annualized +23.12% vs +23.08% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVUQ or SPY?
AVUQ has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 11.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: AVUQ -11.9% vs SPY -12.4%.
Should I hold both AVUQ and SPY?
AVUQ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AVUQ and SPY?
86.7% of AVUQ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 66.8% of SPY's is in holdings AVUQ also owns. They hold 175 positions in common, counted across the 550 positions we hold weights for in AVUQ and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, AVUQ or SPY?
AVUQ yields 0.30% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than AVUQ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. AVUQ led over the full window, SPY over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.