CRBN vs SPY
iShares Low Carbon Optimized MSCI ACWI ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CRBN or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CRBN led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. CRBN is less concentrated, with 23.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | CRBN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.97% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,123 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.66% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.38% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.13% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.52% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3646.9% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.1%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,489 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.7%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 8, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 28, 2013 to Sep 10, 2026 (13 years).
CRBN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
CRBN vs SPY Performance
iShares Low Carbon Optimized MSCI ACWI ETF (CRBN) 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 CRBN returned +17.38% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, CRBN is up 10.66% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, CRBN compounded at +20.13% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.52% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, CRBN has the edge at +57.49% annualized vs +13.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CRBN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 3646.9% compared with 14.5% 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 -33.1% for CRBN 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 -0.03. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CRBN charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CRBN currently yields 1.97% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
58.3% of CRBN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 84.8% of SPY's money is in holdings CRBN also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside CRBN. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
292 positions in common, counted across the 976 positions we hold weights for in CRBN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,123 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 206 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for CRBN (14.9% of the fund), and 54 for CRBN that do not appear in SPY (3.6%).
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 CRBN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.40% | 7.71% | 3.31% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.52% | 6.83% | 2.31% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.67% | 5.50% | 2.83% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.32% | 4.08% | 1.76% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.22% | 3.33% | 1.11% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.65% | 2.97% | 1.32% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 1.53% | 2.67% | 1.14% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 1.28% | 1.94% | 0.66% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.11% | 1.51% | 0.40% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.21% | 1.38% | 0.17% |
84.8% of SPY is already inside CRBN.
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, CRBN or SPY?
CRBN has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CRBN or SPY?
Over the past year CRBN returned +17.38% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), CRBN annualized +57.49% vs +13.11% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CRBN or SPY?
CRBN has been the more volatile fund at 3646.9% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CRBN -33.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both CRBN and SPY?
CRBN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of -0.03, 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 CRBN and SPY?
84.8% of SPY's money is in holdings CRBN also owns. 84.8% of SPY's is in holdings CRBN also owns. They hold 292 positions in common, counted across the 976 positions we hold weights for in CRBN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, CRBN or SPY?
CRBN yields 1.97% while SPY yields 0.98%, so CRBN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CRBN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. CRBN led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. CRBN is less concentrated, with 23.7% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.