SPGM vs. NZAC: Diversification Wins, ESG Gets a B+

If the ETF world were a high school, the SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF (NYSE:SPGM) would be the student council president-organized, efficient, and holding a clipboard with 2,895 names on it. Meanwhile, the SPDR MSCI ACWI Climate Paris Aligned ETF (NASDAQ:NZAC) is the eco-club captain, carrying a reusable water bottle and a spreadsheet titled “Carbon Footprint: The Musical.” Both aim to conquer global equities, but one brings a megaphone; the other brings a megaphone and a guilt trip about air travel.

The Great ETF Bake Off: Cost & Size

Metric NZAC SPGM
Issuer SPDR SPDR
Expense ratio 0.12% 0.09%
1-yr return (as of Nov. 14, 2025) 14.9% 17.6%
Dividend yield 1.3% 1.7%
Beta 1.04 N/A
AUM $180.7 million $1.3 billion

Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year weekly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months.

SPGM is the budget-friendly BFF of investors, charging 0.09% (NZAC’s 0.12% feels like a surprise $3 charge for “convenience fees” at a gas station). And while NZAC’s dividend yield is fine, SPGM’s 1.7% is like getting a free latte with your $100 investment-occasionally, and with zero foam.

Performance & Risk: The Office Party Edition

Metric NZAC SPGM
Max drawdown (5 y) -28.29% -25.92%
Growth of $1,000 over 5 years $1,567 $1,617

NZAC’s -28% max drawdown is the investment equivalent of spilling coffee on your PowerPoint during a big presentation. SPGM’s -25% is more like tripping over a cord-messy, but not career-ending. Over five years, $1,000 grows to $1,617 in SPGM versus $1,567 in NZAC. Think of it as the difference between a raise and a “You did great, but…” raise.

What’s Inside the Tupperware?

SPGM is the office potluck star: 2,895 stocks, including tech (26%), financial services (17%), and industrials (12%). Its top three holdings-Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft-are like the Avengers of tech, but here they’re just trying to keep the portfolio from crying. No ESG screens, no drama-just a straightforward “Here’s the market, enjoy” vibe.

NZAC, meanwhile, is the person who brings a kale smoothie to the potluck and explains how it’s “aligned with my values.” With 736 holdings and a heavy tech tilt (31%), it’s like SPGM’s stricter cousin who also avoids energy stocks “for ethical reasons.” Its ESG overlay is a nice touch, but let’s be real: If you’re avoiding energy, you’re also avoiding the plot of every Shonda Rhimes show.

Foolish Take: The Corporate Wellness Workshop

NZAC’s ESG mandate hasn’t held it back too badly-over five years, it lagged SPGM by just 5.2%. That’s like showing up to a meeting 5 minutes late and still getting credit for punctuality. But here’s the catch: NZAC’s climate focus means zero energy exposure and a 2.1% real estate stake. SPGM, by contrast, owns 3.7% energy and 6.7% real estate-because sometimes, you just need to own the oil gushers and the NFTs.

If you’re the type who wants your portfolio to have a moral compass, NZAC is your girl. But if you’re more into “just make me money while I watch Netflix,” SPGM is the one who’ll hand you the remote after she’s already maxed out her ROI. 🚀

Corporate Jargon Decoded

ETF: A box of chocolates… except the chocolates are stocks, and they’re all labeled.
Diversification: Not putting all your eggs in one basket, unless the basket is a Tesla. Then you’re just sad.
AUM: How much money a fund has. Think of it as the “How many followers do you have?” of finance.
Expense ratio: The fee for letting a fund manage your money. It’s like a dating app subscription-except you hope it’s worth it.
Dividend yield: The percentage of dividends you get. It’s the tip jar at the end of a magic show.
Beta: A measure of volatility. High beta = riding the emotional rollercoaster of the market.
Max drawdown: The worst your investment has ever felt. Like a breakup, but with numbers.
ESG screen: Filtering investments based on ethics. It’s like a bouncer at Wall Street’s club.
Climate Paris Aligned: Trying to save the planet while still charging fees. A balancing act.
Sector tilt: When a fund has a “favorite child.”
Concentration risk: Putting too many eggs in one basket. Or one tech stock.
MSCI ACWI IMI Index: The global stock index that’s basically the SAT of finance.

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2025-11-18 01:38