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ETFs vs the S&P 500: Returns, Risk and Crash History

378 popular US‑listed ETFs compared with the S&P 500: returns, Sharpe ratio, drawdowns in five crises and correlations with stocks, bonds and gold. Data as of Sep 30, 2026.

4 min readHow we research

Key takeaways

  • Many popular ETFs hold the same mega‑cap stocks as the S&P 500, so their returns and crashes look alike: check correlation before adding one.
  • Bond and gold ETFs are the main low‑correlation holdings, but bonds fell with stocks in 2022.
In this article
  1. All ETFs
  2. About this data

All ETFs

TickerName5‑yr returnS&P 500 (5 yr)Sharpe (5 yr)2022 drawdown
VTIVanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares+79.7%+89.1%0.61−26.2%
SPCXSPAC and New Issue ETF+523.4%+89.1%0.43—
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF+89.6%+89.1%0.69−25.4%
IVViShares Core S&P 500 ETF+89.5%+89.1%0.69−25.4%
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust+89.1%+89.1%0.69−25.4%
1557.TSPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust+82.0%+89.1%0.65—
VXUSVanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund+55.5%+89.1%0.44−29.8%
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust+112.5%+89.1%0.67−34.6%
  • VTI
    Name
    Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares
    5‑yr return
    +79.7%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.61
    2022 drawdown
    −26.2%
  • SPCX
    Name
    SPAC and New Issue ETF
    5‑yr return
    +523.4%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.43
    2022 drawdown
    —
  • VOO
    Name
    Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
    5‑yr return
    +89.6%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.69
    2022 drawdown
    −25.4%
  • IVV
    Name
    iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
    5‑yr return
    +89.5%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.69
    2022 drawdown
    −25.4%
  • SPY
    Name
    State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
    5‑yr return
    +89.1%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.69
    2022 drawdown
    −25.4%
  • 1557.T
    Name
    SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
    5‑yr return
    +82.0%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.65
    2022 drawdown
    —
  • VXUS
    Name
    Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund
    5‑yr return
    +55.5%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.44
    2022 drawdown
    −29.8%
  • QQQ
    Name
    Invesco QQQ Trust
    5‑yr return
    +112.5%
    S&P 500 (5 yr)
    +89.1%
    Sharpe (5 yr)
    0.67
    2022 drawdown
    −34.6%

About this data

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Historical figures are calculated by Exent from market data and are for education only; they are not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

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Educational content, not investment advice. Examples are illustrative; past performance does not guarantee future results.

DISCLAIMER: Exent AI is an informational research platform and does not provide investment advice, financial advice, or act as an investment adviser, broker-dealer, or fiduciary. All content, analytics, and model outputs are provided for educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial instrument. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Exent AI does not execute trades, hold customer funds, or provide brokerage services. Past performance and hypothetical results are not indicative of future results. Third-party data and AI-generated outputs may be incomplete or inaccurate.