In short: CSPX (iShares) and VUAA (Vanguard) follow the same index, the S&P 500, at the same cost of 0.07% a year. Both reinvest dividends and both are Irish UCITS funds. They differ in who runs them, how long they have existed, and where you can buy them: CSPX trades on Euronext Amsterdam, VUAA does not.
The S&P 500 holds about 500 of the largest US companies. In Europe two accumulating funds dominate for this index: CSPX from iShares (BlackRock) and VUAA from Vanguard. On paper they are almost identical, so the differences are practical ones. This page lists them.
Side by side
| CSPX | VUAA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating |
| ISIN | IE00B5BMR087 | IE00BFMXXD54 |
| Index | S&P 500 | S&P 500 |
| Yearly cost (TER) | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Dividends | Reinvested (accumulating) | Reinvested (accumulating) |
| How it tracks | Physical, buys every share in the index | Physical, buys every share in the index |
| Fund home | Ireland | Ireland |
| Since | May 2010 | May 2019 |
| Euronext Amsterdam | Yes, ticker CSPX | Not listed |
| XETRA | SXR8 | VUAA |
What is the same
Same index, same cost, same way of handling dividends, same fund country. Both buy the shares in the index directly instead of using swaps. That means that, before costs, the two funds should move almost exactly alike. Small gaps come from how each fund handles cash, dividends and trading. That gap is called the tracking difference; both issuers publish it in their reports.
What differs
- The issuer. CSPX is run by BlackRock under the iShares name, VUAA by Vanguard. Both are large index fund managers.
- Age. CSPX started in May 2010, VUAA in May 2019. A longer history lets you look up more years of tracking difference.
- Where you can buy it. CSPX trades in euros on Euronext Amsterdam. VUAA is not listed there; in euros it trades on XETRA and Borsa Italiana, among others. Which exchanges your broker offers decides which one you can buy, and what it costs per order.
- Ticker confusion. CSPX trades as SXR8 on XETRA. Search by ISIN in your broker app to be sure you have the right fund.
What both share: one country
An S&P 500 fund holds US companies only, and the ten largest made up about 39% of Vanguard’s S&P 500 fund in August 2026. That is less spread than a world fund such as VWCE or IWDA, where the US is about 60–70%. Both funds are also in US dollars inside, so a falling dollar lowers your value in euros. Holding CSPX and VUAA together adds no spread: it is the same index twice.
How to choose
Because the funds are so similar, the practical points usually decide: which one your broker offers on which exchange, the order costs there, and the spread. The ISIN tells you which fund you’re buying; the ticker can differ per exchange.
Investing involves risk: you can lose money. This page explains facts and is not personal advice. Past results do not predict future results.
Frequently asked questions
Are there distributing versions?
Yes. iShares has IUSA (ISIN IE0031442068) and Vanguard has VUSA (ISIN IE00B3XXRP09). Both pay out dividends and also cost 0.07% a year.
Why does the S&P 500 have 503 shares?
A few companies, such as Alphabet, have more than one listed share class. Each class counts as a separate line in the index.
Related pages
Sources
- BlackRock: product page and Key Information Document, iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF USD (Acc).
- Vanguard: product page and Key Information Document, S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating, listings and holdings as at 30 September 2026.
- justETF fund profiles (listings), read 24 October 2026. Top-10 weight: Vanguard factsheet, 31 August 2026.