CIBR vs SPY
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CIBR or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CIBR led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.7%.
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 | CIBR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.58% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $15.9B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 88 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +35.21%Best | +13.78% |
| 1Y Return | +32.73%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.92%Best | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20%Best | +12.80% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,588Best | $18,262 |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.7% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 7, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 7, 2015 to Sep 3, 2026 (11.2 years).
CIBR 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 11.2 years both funds cover.
CIBR vs SPY Performance
First Trust NASDAQ Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CIBR returned +32.73% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, CIBR is up 35.21% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, CIBR compounded at +26.92% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +13.20% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, CIBR has the edge at +15.26% annualized vs +13.23%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CIBR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 15.2% 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 -33.9% for CIBR and -34.1% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CIBR charges 0.58% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $58 vs $9 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CIBR currently yields 0.43% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
64.1% of CIBR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 14.5% of SPY's money is in holdings CIBR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
16 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in CIBR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 88 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CIBR (85.0% of the fund), and 20 for CIBR that do not appear in SPY (28.9%).
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 CIBR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 9.43% | 0.45% | 8.98% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 6.85% | 2.97% | 3.88% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 8.71% | 0.16% | 8.55% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc. Class A | 8.41% | 0.32% | 8.09% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 7.39% | 0.72% | 6.67% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 1.98% | 5.50% | 3.52% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc.Class A | 1.74% | 3.33% | 1.59% |
| FFIVF5 Networks Inc. | 3.11% | 0.03% | 3.08% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 2.70% | 0.03% | 2.67% |
| ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock | 2.26% | 0.30% | 1.96% |
64.1% of CIBR 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, CIBR or SPY?
CIBR has an expense ratio of 0.58% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CIBR or SPY?
Over the past year CIBR returned +32.73% vs +21.44% for SPY, so CIBR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), CIBR annualized +15.26% vs +13.23% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CIBR or SPY?
CIBR has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CIBR -33.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both CIBR and SPY?
CIBR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 CIBR and SPY?
64.1% of CIBR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 14.5% of SPY's is in holdings CIBR also owns. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in CIBR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CIBR or SPY?
CIBR yields 0.43% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CIBR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CIBR led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.