SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF (VLU) Performance
VLU total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +18.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +21.9% total return
- 5 years
- +12.3% a year
- 10 years
- +14.1% a year
- Since first price
- +13.7% a year since 2012
VLU trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VLU total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.6% | +1.6% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.2% | +2.7% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +8.2% | +7.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +18.3% | +16.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +21.9% | +19.7% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +85.7%+22.9%/yr | +75.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +78.9%+12.3%/yr | +61.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +273.3%+14.1%/yr | +201.0% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 25, 2012 | +504.5%+13.7%/yr | +308.7% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VLU vs SPY
From Oct 25, 2012: VLU grew to $60,447, SPY to $68,313.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VLU returns by calendar year
10 of 13 full years positive. Best 2013 (+34.6%), worst 2022 (−8.2%). 2026 is year to date.
VLU annual returns table
| Year | VLU | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +18.3% | −6.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +16.7% | −16.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +17.2% | −6.2% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +17.2% | −10.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −8.2% | −19.6% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +30.9% | −5.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +9.9% | −37.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.2% | −7.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −7.9% | −20.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +18.2% | −3.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +15.3% | −9.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −2.4% | −12.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +13.6% | −7.4% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +34.6% | −5.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VLU largest drawdowns
Now 1.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 12, 2020 | −37.4% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 40 days | 9 months |
| Sep 24, 2018 | −20.2% | Dec 24, 2018 | Oct 25, 2019 | 3 months | 1.1 years |
| Jan 11, 2022 | −19.6% | Sep 30, 2022 | Jul 28, 2023 | 9 months | 1.5 years |
| Feb 19, 2025 | −16.2% | Apr 8, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 | 48 days | 4 months |
| May 19, 2015 | −15.9% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jul 25, 2016 | 9 months | 1.2 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −10.6% | Apr 2, 2018 | Aug 21, 2018 | 2 months | 7 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VLU risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.6% | +12.9% | +13.7% | +13.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 15.0% | 16.5% | 15.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.28 | 0.65 | 0.73 | 0.79 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.33 | 1.03 | 1.15 | 1.24 |
| Best month | +8.0% | +11.1% | +16.1% | +16.1% |
| Worst month | −5.4% | −9.3% | −16.0% | −16.0% |
| Best 12 months | +33.0% | +33.0% | +72.3% | +72.3% |
| Worst 12 months | +7.1% | −11.0% | −16.3% | −16.3% |
| Positive months | 75% | 63% | 66% | 67% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.82 | 0.87 | 0.99 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.85 | 0.91 | 0.92 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VLU rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 157 | −16.3% | +13.9% | +72.3% | 81% |
| 3-year (a year) | 133 | −0.9% | +11.3% | +22.9% | 99% |
| 5-year (a year) | 109 | +2.6% | +12.2% | +19.9% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 49 | +9.6% | +11.3% | +14.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VLU performance overview
SPDR S&P 1500 Value Tilt ETF (VLU) returned +21.9% over the past year and +14.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +13.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $60,447. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −37.4%, from Feb 12, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. VLU finished 10 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+34.6%) and the worst 2022 (−8.2%). Volatility has been 15.6% a year.
Related: VLU chart, VLU holdings, VLU dividends, VLU valuation. See the VLU overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VLU performance FAQ
What is the VLU return over the past year?
VLU returned +21.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 19.7%.
What is the average annual return of VLU?
VLU has returned +12.3% a year over 5 years, +14.1% a year over 10 years, +13.7% a year since October 25, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VLU be worth?
$10,000 invested in VLU at its first recorded close on October 25, 2012 would be worth about $60,447 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VLU?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −8.2%. The best was 2013 at +34.6%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VLU?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −37.4% between February 12, 2020 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 16, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is VLU?
Over the past 3 years VLU had an annualized volatility of 11.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.28 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).