EXI vs SPY
iShares Global Industrials ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, EXI or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. EXI is less concentrated, with 24.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | EXI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 238 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.69% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.41% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.26% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.51% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,241 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.4%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 12, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (20 years).
EXI 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 20 years both funds cover.
EXI vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Industrials ETF (EXI) 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 EXI returned +18.41% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, EXI is up 11.69% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, EXI compounded at +20.26% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.51% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.65% annualized vs +7.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EXI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.7% 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 -63.9% for EXI 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EXI charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EXI currently yields 1.07% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
56.6% of EXI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 8.7% of SPY's money is in holdings EXI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
82 positions in common, counted across the 218 positions we hold weights for in EXI and 503 in SPY, against full books of 238 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 413 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for EXI (90.8% of the fund), and 3 for EXI that do not appear in SPY (0.5%).
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
| Stock | Weight in EXI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATCaterpillar, Inc. | 4.33% | 0.61% | 3.72% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 3.84% | 0.59% | 3.25% |
| GEVGE Vernova Inc. CDR (CAD Hedged) | 3.00% | 0.41% | 2.59% |
| RTXRaytheon Co. | 2.63% | 0.44% | 2.19% |
| BABoeing Co | 1.79% | 0.28% | 1.51% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 1.62% | 0.26% | 1.36% |
| ETNEaton Corp Plc | 1.55% | 0.26% | 1.29% |
| DEDeere & Co. | 1.55% | 0.23% | 1.32% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 1.43% | 0.22% | 1.21% |
| PHParker-Hannifin Corp. | 1.19% | 0.19% | 1.00% |
56.6% of EXI 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, EXI or SPY?
EXI has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EXI or SPY?
Over the past year EXI returned +18.41% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), EXI annualized +7.50% vs +9.65% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EXI or SPY?
EXI has been the more volatile fund at 18.7% annualized versus 15.3% for SPY. Worst drawdown: EXI -63.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both EXI and SPY?
EXI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EXI and SPY?
56.6% of EXI's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 8.7% of SPY's is in holdings EXI also owns. They hold 82 positions in common, counted across the 218 positions we hold weights for in EXI and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, EXI or SPY?
EXI yields 1.07% while SPY yields 1.01%, so EXI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than EXI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. EXI is less concentrated, with 24.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.