EWN vs SPY
iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EWN or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EWN led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%.
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 | EWN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $627M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.20% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 60 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.01%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +37.04%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.91%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.74% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.8% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -68.2% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,517 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 1, 1996 to Sep 4, 2026 (30.4 years).
EWN 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 30.4 years both funds cover.
EWN vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Netherlands ETF (EWN) 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 EWN returned +37.04% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EWN is up 19.01% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, EWN compounded at +22.91% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.74% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 30-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.71% annualized vs +5.22%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% compared with 15.3% 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 -68.2% for EWN and -56.5% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWN 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, EWN currently yields 4.20% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 56 holdings in EWN and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.8% 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 56 positions we hold weights for in EWN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 60 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EWN (99.5% of the fund), and 3 for EWN that do not appear in SPY (2.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWN 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, EWN or SPY?
EWN 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, EWN or SPY?
Over the past year EWN returned +37.04% vs +19.97% for SPY, so EWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (30 years), EWN annualized +5.22% vs +8.71% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWN or SPY?
EWN has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EWN -68.2% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both EWN and SPY?
EWN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, EWN or SPY?
EWN yields 4.20% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EWN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. EWN led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.