BKF vs SPY
iShares MSCI BIC ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BKF or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BKF is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | BKF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $75M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.56% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 712 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -11.55% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | -11.32% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.83% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -1.36% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.2% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.4% | -55.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,338 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.7%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (18.8 years).
BKF 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
BKF vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI BIC ETF (BKF) 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 BKF returned -11.32% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, BKF is down 11.55% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, BKF compounded at +6.83% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -1.36% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.60% annualized vs -1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BKF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.2% compared with 15.7% 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 -70.4% for BKF and -55.2% 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BKF charges 0.72% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $9 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BKF currently yields 1.56% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of BKF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings BKF also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 683 positions we hold weights for in BKF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 712 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BKF (99.3% of the fund), and 6 for BKF that do not appear in SPY (2.2%).
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 BKF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.19% | 0.05% | 0.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BKF 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, BKF or SPY?
BKF has an expense ratio of 0.72% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BKF or SPY?
Over the past year BKF returned -11.32% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), BKF annualized -1.43% vs +9.60% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BKF or SPY?
BKF has been the more volatile fund at 23.2% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: BKF -70.4% vs SPY -55.2%.
Should I hold both BKF and SPY?
BKF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, BKF or SPY?
BKF yields 1.56% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BKF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BKF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. BKF is less concentrated, with 26.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.