EIRL vs SPY
iShares MSCI Ireland ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EIRL or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EIRL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.6%.
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 | EIRL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $79M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.36% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 33 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +15.77%Best | +12.71% |
| 1Y Return | +28.71%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.37% | +21.09%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.70% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 14.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,176 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 75.6% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 5, 2010 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2010 to Sep 8, 2026 (16.3 years).
EIRL 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 16.3 years both funds cover.
EIRL vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Ireland ETF (EIRL) 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 EIRL returned +28.71% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, EIRL is up 15.77% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Over three years, EIRL compounded at +17.37% per year against +21.09% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.70% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +9.45%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EIRL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 14.3% 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 -48.3% for EIRL 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EIRL charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EIRL currently yields 2.36% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in EIRL and 503 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 100.0% 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 26 positions we hold weights for in EIRL and 503 in SPY, against full books of 33 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EIRL (99.4% of the fund), and 5 for EIRL that do not appear in SPY (10.4%).
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 EIRL 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, EIRL or SPY?
EIRL has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EIRL or SPY?
Over the past year EIRL returned +28.71% vs +19.36% for SPY, so EIRL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EIRL annualized +9.45% vs +13.04% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EIRL or SPY?
EIRL has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 14.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EIRL -48.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EIRL and SPY?
EIRL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, EIRL or SPY?
EIRL yields 2.36% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EIRL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EIRL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EIRL led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.