# SPYM vs VOO: fees, holdings and returns compared

> SPYM vs VOO: what each ETF holds, what it costs, and how both did over the same dates, with yearly returns and worst drops.

SPYM and VOO both track the S&P 500, so they hold the same about 500 large US companies. SPYM was called SPLG until State Street renamed it. Both charge very low yearly fees, so their returns have been almost the same. Over the same dates since September 2010, SPYM returned about 14.8% a year and VOO returned about 14.8% a year.

Written by [the Tactfolio research team](https://tactfolio.com/about/editorial-policy). Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.

## Key points

- SPYM costs less: 0.02% a year against 0.03%.
- SPYM started trading in November 2005. VOO started in September 2010.
- Worst drops since 2010: SPYM −33.9%, VOO −34.0%.
- Daily correlation: 0.94 (1 means they always move together).

## What is the difference between SPYM and VOO?

There is very little difference in what they own. SPYM comes from State Street, the issuer of SPY, and VOO comes from Vanguard. Both are regular ETFs, not the older trust setup SPY uses. SPYM has a lower share price, which some people find easier for buying whole shares. Small gaps in returns come from fees and how each fund handles cash and lends out shares.

| Fact | SPYM | VOO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full name | State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF |
| Issuer | SPDR (State Street) | Vanguard |
| Expense ratio | 0.02% a year | 0.03% a year |
| Started trading | November 8, 2005 | September 7, 2010 |
| Tracks | S&P 500 Index | S&P 500 Index |
| Holdings | 505 holdings as of October 15, 2026 | 505 holdings as of September 30, 2026 |
| Type | US stocks, ETF | US stocks, ETF |

Fund facts checked on the [SPDR (State Street) SPYM page](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/state-street-spdr-portfolio-sp-500-etf-spym) and the [Vanguard VOO page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voo).

## Is SPYM or VOO cheaper?

SPYM costs less: 0.02% a year against 0.03%. On $10,000, that is about $2 a year for SPYM and $3 for VOO. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.

## SPYM vs VOO performance over the same dates

Both funds are measured from September 2010 to October 2026, the dates both traded. SPYM returned about 14.8% a year and VOO returned about 14.8% a year. VOO came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.

| Measure | SPYM | VOO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $10,000 grew to | $92,737 | $92,857 |
| Total return | 827.4% | 828.6% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 14.8% | 14.8% |
| Worst drop from a high | −33.9% | −34.0% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| Last 12 months | 15.9% | 15.8% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 23.8% | 23.8% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 12.8% | 12.8% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 15.5% | 15.5% |

Prices through October 20, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.

## SPYM and VOO returns by year

| Year | SPYM | VOO |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026 (part of the year) | 13.8% | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 17.8% | 17.8% |
| 2024 | 25.0% | 25.0% |
| 2023 | 26.2% | 26.3% |
| 2022 | −18.1% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | 28.8% | 28.8% |
| 2020 | 18.5% | 18.3% |
| 2019 | 32.0% | 31.4% |
| 2018 | −4.8% | −4.5% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | 21.8% |
| 2016 | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| 2015 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| 2014 | 13.7% | 12.9% |
| 2013 | 33.2% | 32.4% |
| 2012 | 15.1% | 16.0% |
| 2011 | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| 2010 (part of the year) | 14.8% | 14.8% |

## Which fell further in bad times?

A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. SPYM's worst fall was −33.9%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 10, 2020.

VOO's worst fall was −34.0%, from February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on August 10, 2020.

Their daily moves had a correlation of 0.94. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So holding both adds little variety.

## Why people choose SPYM or VOO

**SPYM.** People who want the S&P 500 at one of the lowest fees, or a lower share price, often pick SPYM.

**VOO.** People who already use Vanguard funds, or want one of the largest S&P 500 funds, often pick VOO.

## Strategies that hold SPYM or VOO

No classic strategy holds SPYM or VOO yet.

## Other funds like SPYM and VOO

Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: [SPYM alternatives](https://tactfolio.com/alternatives/SPYM.md) and [VOO alternatives](https://tactfolio.com/alternatives/VOO.md).

## Test a mix of SPYM and VOO

Open the [builder](https://tactfolio.com/builder), add SPYM and VOO, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for [SPYM](https://tactfolio.com/etf/SPYM.md) and [VOO](https://tactfolio.com/etf/VOO.md), or see [more ETF comparisons](https://tactfolio.com/etf-comparisons.md).

## The details

Both funds use Tactfolio's stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund's first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read [what a backtest simulates](https://tactfolio.com/docs/backtests.md) for more on these measures.

## Research and test it

- [S&P 500 index funds](https://tactfolio.com/learn/sp500-index-funds): Compare the biggest S&P 500 index funds, ETFs and mutual funds, by yearly fee, see how much fees cost over 30 years, and learn how to buy one.
- [S&P 500 index](https://tactfolio.com/learn/sp500-index): The S&P 500 tracks about 500 large US companies. Learn how stocks get in, how the index is weighted, how to invest in it, and how far it has fallen before.
- [What is an ETF](https://tactfolio.com/learn/what-is-an-etf): An ETF is a fund that trades like a stock. Learn how ETFs work, what they cost, the main types, and the risks, with SEC sources.
- [ETF screener](https://tactfolio.com/screener.md): A free ETF screener for 162 US-listed funds. Filter by type, issuer and fee, sort by returns or worst drop, and compare funds side by side.
- [ETF expense ratio](https://tactfolio.com/learn/etf-expense-ratio): What an ETF expense ratio is, how the fund charges it, and how 0.03% vs 1% adds up over 10 and 30 years, with real fund examples.
- [Backtest a portfolio](https://tactfolio.com/trading-tools/backtest-portfolio): Backtest a portfolio of US stocks and ETFs. Enter tickers and shares, pick when to rebalance, and get the results with a link to share.

## Common questions

### Is SPYM the same fund as SPLG?

Yes. State Street renamed SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF from SPLG to SPYM. The fund, its index and its history stayed the same.

### Do SPYM and VOO hold the same stocks?

Yes. Both track the S&P 500, so they hold the same companies in nearly the same amounts.

### Which is cheaper, SPYM or VOO?

SPYM costs less: 0.02% a year against 0.03%. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 17, 2026.

### Which did better, SPYM or VOO?

From September 2010 to October 2026, SPYM returned about 14.8% a year and VOO returned about 14.8% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −33.9% and −34.0%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.

## Sources

- [SPDR (State Street): State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF fund page](https://www.ssga.com/us/en/intermediary/etfs/state-street-spdr-portfolio-sp-500-etf-spym)
- [Vanguard: Vanguard S&P 500 ETF fund page](https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/profile/voo)

> Not financial advice. Tactfolio is a research and automation tool. It is not a broker or a financial adviser. This page is for education only. Backtests are hypothetical. They show how rules would have done on past prices, not how they will do. All investing involves risk, including losing the money you put in.