SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG): Complete Beginner's Guide
SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF (SPYG) is a us large-cap growth ETF from State Street with an expense ratio of 0.04% and $25.0B in assets under management. Our Beginner Suitability Score: 8.5/10 (Great for Beginners). 5-year annualized return: 17.50%.
Last updated: April 2026
State Street • US Large-Cap Growth
Expense Ratio
0.04%
AUM
$25.0B
Dividend Yield
0.70%
Inception
2000
Beginner Score
8.5/10
What is SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF?
SPYG tracks the S&P 500 Growth Index, offering exposure to the growth-oriented half of the S&P 500 at an ultra-low expense ratio of just 0.04%. It selects stocks based on sales growth, earnings growth relative to price, and price momentum. For cost-conscious growth investors, SPYG delivers nearly identical exposure to pricier alternatives at a fraction of the cost.
SPYG is managed by State Street and has been available since 2000. With $25.0B in assets under management, it's a well-established fund with strong institutional backing. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.04%, which means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $4 per year in management fees.
SPYG at a Glance — Key Metrics
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% |
| Total Holdings | 230 |
| P/E Ratio | 33.5 |
| Beta | 1.12 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.70% |
| AUM | $25.0B |
| Inception Year | 2000 |
| Issuer | State Street |
Top 10 Holdings in SPYG
SPYG holds 230 different securities. Here are the largest positions that make up the core of this fund:
| # | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | AAPL | 13.00% |
| 2 | Microsoft | MSFT | 12.00% |
| 3 | NVIDIA | NVDA | 11.00% |
| 4 | Amazon | AMZN | 6.50% |
| 5 | Meta Platforms | META | 5.00% |
| 6 | Alphabet Class A | GOOGL | 4.00% |
| 7 | Alphabet Class C | GOOG | 3.50% |
| 8 | Tesla | TSLA | 3.20% |
| 9 | Broadcom | AVGO | 3.00% |
| 10 | Eli Lilly | LLY | 2.70% |
SPYG's top holding is Apple (AAPL) at 13.00%, followed by Microsoft (MSFT) at 12.00% and NVIDIA (NVDA) at 11.00%. The top 10 holdings account for 63.90% of the fund's 230 total positions.
View data table
| Rank | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple | AAPL | 13.00% |
| 2 | Microsoft | MSFT | 12.00% |
| 3 | NVIDIA | NVDA | 11.00% |
| 4 | Amazon | AMZN | 6.50% |
| 5 | Meta Platforms | META | 5.00% |
| 6 | Alphabet Class A | GOOGL | 4.00% |
| 7 | Alphabet Class C | GOOG | 3.50% |
| 8 | Tesla | TSLA | 3.20% |
| 9 | Broadcom | AVGO | 3.00% |
| 10 | Eli Lilly | LLY | 2.70% |
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SPYG Performance History
Here's how SPYG has performed over different time periods. Remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but it gives you a sense of the fund's track record:
YTD
3.50%
1 Year
28.00%
3 Year
11.50%
5 Year
17.50%
10 Year
15.50%
SPYG has returned 17.50% annualized over 5 years and 15.50% over 10 years. YTD return is 3.50%.
View data table
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| YTD | 3.50% |
| 1 Year | 28.00% |
| 3 Year | 11.50% |
| 5 Year | 17.50% |
| 10 Year | 15.50% |
Beginner Suitability Score: 8.5/10
Our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score evaluates ETFs based on five factors that matter most to new investors: fees, volatility, diversification, dividend history, and track record length.
SPYG scores 8.5/10 because it has very low fees, can be more volatile than the broader market, offers broad diversification across 230 holdings, and has been available since 2000, giving it a proven track record.
How to Buy SPYG — Step by Step
- Open a brokerage account — We recommend Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard for ETF investing. All offer $0 commissions on ETF trades.
- Fund your account — Transfer money from your bank. You can start with as little as $1 if your broker offers fractional shares.
- Search for "SPYG" — Use the search bar in your brokerage platform to find SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF.
- Place your order — Choose "Market Order" for simplicity or "Limit Order" if you want to set a specific price. Enter how many shares (or dollar amount) you want to buy.
- Set up automatic investing — Most brokers let you schedule recurring purchases (e.g., $100/month on the 1st). This is dollar cost averaging in action.
SPYG Sector Allocation
Here's how SPYG distributes its investments across different sectors of the economy:
SPYG's largest sector allocation is Technology at 50.0%, followed by Consumer Discretionary at 14.0% and Communication Services at 11.0%.
View data table
| Sector | Weight |
|---|---|
| Technology | 50.0% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 14.0% |
| Communication Services | 11.0% |
| Healthcare | 8.0% |
| Industrials | 7.0% |
| Financials | 5.0% |
| Consumer Staples | 3.0% |
| Energy | 1.0% |
| Real Estate | 1.0% |
Dollar Cost Averaging Into SPYG
Here's what consistent monthly investing could look like over time, assuming an average annual return of 8% (approximate historical stock market average):
| Monthly | 10 Years | 20 Years | 30 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $18,417 | $59,295 | $150,030 |
| $250/mo | $46,041 | $148,237 | $375,074 |
| $500/mo | $92,083 | $296,474 | $750,148 |
*Projections assume 8% average annual return with monthly compounding. Actual returns will vary. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Fee impact: With SPYG's expense ratio of 0.04%, a $10,000 investment would lose approximately $344 to fees over 20 years compared to a zero-fee investment. This is a reasonable fee level for the value provided.
SPYG's expense ratio of 0.04% costs $344 on a $10,000 investment over 20 years (assuming 8% annual return). Without fees, the investment would grow to $46,610 instead of $46,266.
View data table
| Year | Without Fees | With Fees | Fee Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| 5 | $14,693 | $14,666 | $27 |
| 10 | $21,589 | $21,509 | $80 |
| 15 | $31,722 | $31,546 | $176 |
| 20 | $46,610 | $46,266 | $344 |
Pros and Cons of SPYG
Pros
- ✓Expense ratio of just 0.04% makes it one of the cheapest growth ETFs in existence
- ✓S&P 500 growth methodology uses clear, transparent factor-based selection
- ✓Long track record since 2000 provides decades of performance data
- ✓Lower share price than IWF makes it accessible for smaller accounts
Cons
- ✗Extreme tech concentration with about half the fund in technology stocks
- ✗Top three holdings alone represent over 35% of the fund, creating single-stock risk
- ✗Growth style can dramatically underperform during value-led market rotations
SPYG vs Similar ETFs
See how SPYG stacks up against similar funds:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SPYG a good ETF for beginners?▾
SPYG has a Beginner Suitability Score of 8.5/10 on our scale. This makes it a strong choice for new investors due to its low fees and broad diversification.
What is the expense ratio of SPYG?▾
SPYG has an expense ratio of 0.04%. This means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $4 per year in fees. This is considered very low and cost-efficient.
How much money do I need to invest in SPYG?▾
You can invest in SPYG with as little as $1 through brokers that offer fractional shares (like Fidelity, Schwab, or Robinhood). There is no minimum investment required beyond the share price itself, which changes daily. Dollar cost averaging — investing a fixed amount regularly — is a popular strategy.
Does SPYG pay dividends?▾
Yes, SPYG pays dividends with a current yield of approximately 0.70%. Dividends are typically paid quarterly and can be reinvested automatically through most brokers.
What are the top holdings in SPYG?▾
The top holdings in SPYG include Apple (13.00%), Microsoft (12.00%), NVIDIA (11.00%), and more. The fund holds 230 total positions, providing broad diversification across many companies.
What sectors does SPYG invest in?▾
SPYG's largest sector allocations are Technology (50.00%), Consumer Discretionary (14.00%), Communication Services (11.00%). This sector distribution shows a technology-heavy portfolio typical of large-cap U.S. equity funds.
How much do SPYG's fees cost over time?▾
With an expense ratio of 0.04%, a $10,000 investment in SPYG would lose approximately $344 to fees over 20 years (assuming 8% annual returns). This is a reasonable fee level.