ECNS vs SPY
iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ECNS or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ECNS is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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 | ECNS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $65M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.53% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 274 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -14.19% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -23.88% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.87% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -6.36% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,200 | $19,027Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2010 to Sep 21, 2026 (16 years).
ECNS 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.
ECNS vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI China Small-Cap ETF (ECNS) 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 ECNS returned -23.88% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, ECNS is down 14.19% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, ECNS compounded at +6.87% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -6.36% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.23% annualized vs -2.08%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECNS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.1% compared with 14.1% 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 -64.9% for ECNS 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECNS charges 0.59% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $9 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECNS currently yields 6.53% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 242 holdings in ECNS and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 242 positions we hold weights for in ECNS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 274 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ECNS (99.3% of the fund), and 10 for ECNS that do not appear in SPY (5.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECNS 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, ECNS or SPY?
ECNS has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECNS or SPY?
Over the past year ECNS returned -23.88% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ECNS annualized -2.08% vs +13.23% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECNS or SPY?
ECNS has been the more volatile fund at 25.1% annualized versus 14.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ECNS -64.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ECNS and SPY?
ECNS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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, ECNS or SPY?
ECNS yields 6.53% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ECNS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ECNS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ECNS is less concentrated, with 14.8% 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.