SPY vs USRT
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs iShares Core US REIT ETF
Which is better, SPY or USRT?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
USRT has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.2%.
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 | SPY | USRT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.08%Best |
| AUM | $823.2B | $4.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 2.85% |
| Holdings | 1,515 | 130 |
| YTD Return | +13.53%Best | +9.41% |
| 1Y Return | +17.47%Best | +9.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.36%Best | +12.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.21%Best | +2.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5%Best | 21.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -72.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,596Best | $11,565 |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.2%Best | 50.2% |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 1993 | May 1, 2007 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 4, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.4 years).
SPY vs USRT 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 19.4 years both funds cover.
SPY vs USRT Performance
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and iShares Core US REIT ETF (USRT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% while USRT returned +9.58%. Year to date, SPY is up 13.53% versus a gain of 9.41% for USRT.
Over three years, SPY compounded at +22.36% per year against +12.01% for USRT; over five years the annualized figures are +13.21% and +2.95% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.17% annualized vs +1.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
USRT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 15.5% 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 -56.5% for SPY and -72.9% for USRT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPY charges 0.09% per year while USRT charges 0.08%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $8 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPY currently yields 0.99% against 2.85% for USRT.
Holdings Overlap
1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings USRT also owns. 68.5% of USRT's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
24 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 124 in USRT, against full books of 1,515 and 130.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 504 and 124 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 472 positions USRT does not, 97.6% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.78%, AAPL 7.45%, MSFT 5.71%, AMZN 3.78%, GOOGL 3.12%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPY | Weight in USRT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 0.25% | 9.06% | 8.81% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 0.19% | 7.20% | 7.01% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 0.15% | 6.34% | 6.19% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 0.10% | 4.51% | 4.41% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.09% | 4.41% | 4.32% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 0.07% | 4.06% | 3.99% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 0.08% | 3.93% | 3.85% |
| EQRVivmark Residential | 0.07% | 3.89% | 3.82% |
| VTRVentas Inc . | 0.07% | 3.86% | 3.79% |
| IRMIron Mtn Inc New Com Npv | 0.05% | 2.97% | 2.92% |
68.5% of USRT is already inside SPY.
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, SPY or USRT?
SPY has an expense ratio of 0.09% while USRT charges 0.08%. USRT is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPY or USRT?
Over the past year SPY returned +17.47% vs +9.58% for USRT, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SPY annualized +9.17% vs +1.97% for USRT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPY or USRT?
USRT has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SPY -56.5% vs USRT -72.9%.
Should I hold both SPY and USRT?
SPY and USRT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 SPY and USRT?
68.5% of USRT's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 68.5% of USRT's is in holdings SPY also owns. They hold 24 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in SPY and 124 in USRT.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPY or USRT?
SPY yields 0.99% while USRT yields 2.85%, so USRT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is USRT better than SPY?
USRT has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.