ITDF vs SPY
iShares LifePath Target Date 2050 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ITDF or SPY?
Target Date against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.8%.
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 | ITDF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.11% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $99M | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.48% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 24 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +11.06% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.27% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.08% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2%Best | 12.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.7%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $17,751 | $18,763Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 99.8% | 38.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Target Date | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 17, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 19, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3 years).
ITDF vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 3 years both funds cover.
ITDF vs SPY Performance
iShares LifePath Target Date 2050 ETF (ITDF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ITDF returned +15.27% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, ITDF is up 11.06% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, ITDF compounded at +21.08% per year against +22.36% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.2% compared with 11.2% for ITDF. 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 -15.7% for ITDF and -18.8% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITDF charges 0.11% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $11 vs $9 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITDF currently yields 1.48% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11 holdings in ITDF and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 99.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 11 positions we hold weights for in ITDF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 24 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ITDF (99.1% of the fund), and 11 for ITDF that do not appear in SPY (100.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ITDF 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, ITDF or SPY?
ITDF has an expense ratio of 0.11% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITDF or SPY?
Over the past year ITDF returned +15.27% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITDF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 11.2% for ITDF. Worst drawdown: ITDF -15.7% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both ITDF and SPY?
ITDF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITDF or SPY?
ITDF yields 1.48% while SPY yields 0.99%, so ITDF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ITDF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 99.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.