ISCB vs SPY
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ISCB or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
ISCB has a lower expense ratio. ISCB led over 1Y, SPY over the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ISCB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $271M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 1,571 | 1,515 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 22.3 years | $52,397 | $73,995Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 12 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. ISCB has data through Oct 2, 2026 and SPY through Oct 14, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 22.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2004 to Oct 2, 2026 (22.3 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISCB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 14.7% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -61.9% for ISCB and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISCB charges 0.04% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $9 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISCB currently yields 1.27% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings ISCB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ISCB, our book for it covers 92.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and ISCB share little of their money.
62 positions in common, counted across the 1,345 positions we hold weights for in ISCB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,571 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ISCB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.28% | 0.03% | 0.25% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 0.27% | 0.03% | 0.24% |
| GENGen Digital Inc | 0.26% | 0.03% | 0.23% |
| IEXIdex Corp Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 0.25% | 0.03% | 0.22% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 0.00% | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| NDSNNordson Corp | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| APAApa Corp. | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts Inc | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| DOCHealthpeak Properties Inc | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISCB and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB has an expense ratio of 0.04% while SPY charges 0.09%. ISCB is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 14.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ISCB -61.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ISCB and SPY?
ISCB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ISCB and SPY?
At least 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings ISCB also owns. Our book for ISCB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 62 positions in common, counted across the 1,345 positions we hold weights for in ISCB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB yields 1.27% while SPY yields 0.99%, so ISCB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ISCB?
ISCB has a lower expense ratio. ISCB led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.