EPU vs SPY
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EPU or SPY?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%.
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 | EPU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $560M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 34 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +26.86%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +62.10%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +48.21%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +33.81%Best | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $42,899Best | $18,728 |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.3% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2009 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 22, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.2 years).
EPU 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
EPU vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF (EPU) 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 EPU returned +62.10% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, EPU is up 26.86% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, EPU compounded at +48.21% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +33.81% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.73% annualized vs +9.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% 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 -64.6% for EPU 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPU 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, EPU currently yields 1.86% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 26 holdings in EPU and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.1% 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 26 positions we hold weights for in EPU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 34 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EPU (99.3% of the fund), and 4 for EPU that do not appear in SPY (48.8%).
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 EPU 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, EPU or SPY?
EPU 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, EPU or SPY?
Over the past year EPU returned +62.10% vs +16.29% for SPY, so EPU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), EPU annualized +9.31% vs +13.73% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPU or SPY?
EPU has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EPU -64.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both EPU and SPY?
EPU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, EPU or SPY?
EPU yields 1.86% while SPY yields 0.98%, so EPU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EPU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.