EFRA vs SPY
iShares Environmental Infrastructure and Industrials ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EFRA or SPY?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.8%.
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 | EFRA | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $6M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.07% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 102 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +6.03% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +6.43% | +19.36%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.01% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -17.9%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $15,831 | $21,489Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 1, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 3, 2022 to Sep 8, 2026 (3.8 years).
EFRA 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
EFRA vs SPY Performance
iShares Environmental Infrastructure and Industrials ETF (EFRA) 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 EFRA returned +6.43% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, EFRA is up 6.03% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, EFRA compounded at +12.01% per year against +21.09% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +22.30% annualized vs +12.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EFRA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 12.9% 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 -17.9% for EFRA 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFRA charges 0.47% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $9 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFRA currently yields 4.07% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
34.0% of EFRA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's money is in holdings EFRA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
6 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in EFRA and 503 in SPY, against full books of 102 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 488 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EFRA (99.2% of the fund), and 15 for EFRA that do not appear in SPY (23.5%).
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
34.0% of EFRA 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, EFRA or SPY?
EFRA has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFRA or SPY?
Over the past year EFRA returned +6.43% vs +19.36% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), EFRA annualized +12.85% vs +22.30% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFRA or SPY?
EFRA has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 12.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EFRA -17.9% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both EFRA and SPY?
EFRA and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 EFRA and SPY?
34.0% of EFRA's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.3% of SPY's is in holdings EFRA also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 80 positions we hold weights for in EFRA and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, EFRA or SPY?
EFRA yields 4.07% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EFRA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EFRA?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.