EMIF vs SPY
iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EMIF or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%.
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 | EMIF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $13M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.25% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 47 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +0.19% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.51% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.15% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.52% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,082 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 16, 2009 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 19, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.2 years).
EMIF 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.
EMIF vs SPY Performance
iShares Emerging Markets Infrastructure ETF (EMIF) 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 EMIF returned +5.51% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, EMIF is up 0.19% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, EMIF compounded at +12.15% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.52% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.52% annualized vs +1.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMIF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 14.4% 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 -54.6% for EMIF 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMIF charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMIF currently yields 4.25% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in EMIF and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% 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 30 positions we hold weights for in EMIF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 47 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EMIF (99.3% of the fund), and 3 for EMIF that do not appear in SPY (7.3%).
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 EMIF 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, EMIF or SPY?
EMIF has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMIF or SPY?
Over the past year EMIF returned +5.51% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), EMIF annualized +1.56% vs +13.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMIF or SPY?
EMIF has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EMIF -54.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EMIF and SPY?
EMIF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, EMIF or SPY?
EMIF yields 4.25% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EMIF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EMIF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.