VOO vs SPYM: The 1 Basis Point S&P 500 Gap
VOO and SPYM both track the S&P 500 for close to nothing. SPYM is a basis point cheaper, and it is now the default fund inside every Trump Account.
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) both track the same S&P 500 index and hold the same 503 large-cap US stocks in the same weights. The only meaningful difference is cost: VOO charges 0.03%, SPYM charges 0.02%. On a $10,000 investment, that is $3 a year versus $2 a year, a $1 difference. It does not compound into anything worth choosing one over the other on fee alone. SPYM has a longer history than most investors realize: State Street launched it in 2005, and it traded under the ticker SPLG until State Street renamed it to SPYM on October 31, 2025. It is the same fund SPLG holders have owned for years, now holding roughly $175B in assets, which is why the ticker change confused people who assumed a new fund had appeared. The one place this comparison now matters concretely: SPYM is the default investment State Street set for every Trump Account, the new child savings account created by 2025 tax legislation. If you are opening one, your money starts in SPYM automatically. Outside that context, VOO and SPYM are interchangeable, and picking based on which one your brokerage already lists prominently is a perfectly reasonable way to decide.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. Where to buy them →
📋 VOO vs SPYM: Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VOO | SPYM |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF |
| Issuer | Vanguard | State Street |
| Tracks Index | S&P 500 | S&P 500 |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% | 0.02% ✓ |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $3.00 | $2.00 |
| AUM | $1,600.2B | $181.8B |
| Holdings | 503 | 503 |
| Inception | 2010 | 2005 |
| 1-Year Return | +9.58% | +9.67% |
| 3-Year Return | +20.57% | +20.57% |
| 5-Year Return | +10.91% | +10.92% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 1.02% |
| Holdings Overlap | See holdings overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.00% | 0.01% |
AUM and returns updated Nov 9, 2026 from ETF BFF database; expense ratios verified against issuer filings. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
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📊 VOO vs SPYM: Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- want focused large-cap US stock exposure via S&P 500
- already use Vanguard and prefer staying within one fund family
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$1/yr per $10K vs VOO
- want focused large-cap US stock exposure via S&P 500
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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