MGF vs SPY
Aberdeen Government Markets Income Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, MGF or SPY?
Long Term High Quality against Large Cap Blend.
MGF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window.
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 | MGF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.09% |
| AUM | $94M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.03% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 469 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +371.40%Best | +13.53% |
| 1Y Return | +369.46%Best | +17.47% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +77.44%Best | +22.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +35.68%Best | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 71.7% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.5%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $45,981Best | $18,596 |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term High Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 28, 1987 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 2, 1996 to Oct 14, 2026 (30.8 years).
MGF 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 30.8 years both funds cover.
MGF vs SPY Performance
Aberdeen Government Markets Income Fund (MGF) is an ETF from Aberdeen Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year MGF returned +369.46% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, MGF is up 371.40% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, MGF compounded at +77.44% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +35.68% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 31-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.79% annualized vs +3.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 71.7% 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 -55.5% for MGF and -56.5% 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 0.01. They move largely independently of each other.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 194 holdings in MGF and 504 in SPY, totalling 61.4% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 194 positions we hold weights for in MGF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 469 and 1,515.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MGF and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which performed better, MGF or SPY?
Over the past year MGF returned +369.46% vs +17.47% for SPY, so MGF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (31 years), MGF annualized +3.87% vs +8.79% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MGF or SPY?
MGF has been the more volatile fund at 71.7% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: MGF -55.5% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both MGF and SPY?
MGF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.01, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, MGF or SPY?
MGF yields 8.03% while SPY yields 0.99%, so MGF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than MGF?
MGF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.