IYY vs SPY
iShares Dow Jones US ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IYY or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYY led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. IYY is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%.
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 | IYY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.1B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.87% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 965 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +13.16% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.69% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.04% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.21% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.3%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,789 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 36.2%Best | 38.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2000 to Oct 14, 2026 (26.3 years).
IYY 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IYY vs SPY Performance
iShares Dow Jones US ETF (IYY) 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 IYY returned +16.69% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, IYY is up 13.16% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, IYY compounded at +22.04% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.21% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IYY has the edge at +6.97% annualized vs +6.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.1% 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 -56.3% for IYY 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYY charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IYY currently yields 0.87% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
88.5% of IYY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 95.3% of SPY's money is in holdings IYY also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside IYY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
483 positions in common, counted across the 942 positions we hold weights for in IYY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 965 and 1,515.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 13 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IYY (3.5% of the fund), and 401 for IYY that do not appear in SPY (10.3%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IYY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.86% | 7.78% | 0.08% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.79% | 7.45% | 0.66% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.36% | 5.71% | 0.35% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.43% | 3.78% | 0.35% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cap Stk Cl A | 2.79% | 3.12% | 0.33% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.30% | 2.48% | 0.18% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc Class C | 2.24% | 2.49% | 0.25% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.25% | 2.22% | 0.03% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.74% | 1.59% | 0.15% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.40% | 1.54% | 0.14% |
95.3% of SPY is already inside IYY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IYY or SPY?
IYY has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IYY or SPY?
Over the past year IYY returned +16.69% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYY annualized +6.97% vs +6.81% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYY or SPY?
IYY has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IYY -56.3% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IYY and SPY?
IYY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between IYY and SPY?
95.3% of SPY's money is in holdings IYY also owns. 95.3% of SPY's is in holdings IYY also owns. They hold 483 positions in common, counted across the 942 positions we hold weights for in IYY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYY or SPY?
IYY yields 0.87% while SPY yields 0.99%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IYY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYY led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. IYY is less concentrated, with 36.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.