BLCV vs SPY
iShares Large Cap Value Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, BLCV or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BLCV led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.0%.
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 | BLCV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $349M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.22% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 57 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.4%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $15,892 | $17,124Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 19, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 166 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. BLCV has data through Apr 9, 2026 and SPY through Sep 22, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 23, 2023 to Apr 9, 2026 (2.9 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 12.2% for BLCV. 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 -13.4% for BLCV 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BLCV charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BLCV currently yields 1.22% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
87.3% of BLCV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 28.0% of SPY's money is in holdings BLCV also owns.
Most of BLCV is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
45 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in BLCV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 57 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 452 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for BLCV (71.3% of the fund), and 10 for BLCV that do not appear in SPY (10.2%).
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 BLCV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 8.97% | 5.66% | 3.31% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.48% | 7.26% | 1.78% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 8.27% | 3.79% | 4.48% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.89% | 1.93% | 0.04% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 3.19% | 0.60% | 2.59% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 3.25% | 0.27% | 2.98% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 2.95% | 0.40% | 2.55% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.64% | 0.56% | 2.08% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 2.01% | 0.99% | 1.02% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Incorporated | 2.15% | 0.55% | 1.60% |
87.3% of BLCV 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, BLCV or SPY?
BLCV has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, BLCV or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 12.2% for BLCV. Worst drawdown: BLCV -13.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both BLCV and SPY?
BLCV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 BLCV and SPY?
87.3% of BLCV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 28.0% of SPY's is in holdings BLCV also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 56 positions we hold weights for in BLCV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, BLCV or SPY?
BLCV yields 1.22% while SPY yields 0.98%, so BLCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than BLCV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. BLCV led over 1Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.