CIF vs SPY
MFS Intermediate High Income Fund vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CIF or SPY?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | CIF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.05% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $31M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.78% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 360 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -87.0% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 30.5 years | $3,863 | $130,973Best |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 21, 1988 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 78 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. CIF has data through Jun 18, 2026 and SPY through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 30.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 1996 to Jun 18, 2026 (30.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CIF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 15.3% 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 -87.0% for CIF 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CIF charges 2.05% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $205 vs $9 annually, a gap of $196 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CIF currently yields 9.78% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 285 holdings in CIF and 504 in SPY, totalling 117.8% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 157 days apart, CIF as of Feb 28, 2026 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 285 positions we hold weights for in CIF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 360 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CIF 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, CIF or SPY?
CIF has an expense ratio of 2.05% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $196 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, CIF or SPY?
CIF has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CIF -87.0% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both CIF and SPY?
CIF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, CIF or SPY?
CIF yields 9.78% while SPY yields 1.01%, so CIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CIF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.