HEEM vs SPY
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, HEEM or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HEEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window.
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 | HEEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $288M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.72% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,327 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.37%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +24.93%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.88%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.21% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.5%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,535 | $18,044Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2014 to Sep 16, 2026 (12 years).
HEEM 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 12 years both funds cover.
HEEM vs SPY Performance
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (HEEM) 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 HEEM returned +24.93% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, HEEM is up 16.37% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, HEEM compounded at +21.88% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.21% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.59% annualized vs +7.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 14.1% for HEEM. 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 -33.5% for HEEM 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HEEM charges 0.72% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $9 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HEEM currently yields 1.72% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in HEEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% 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 2 positions we hold weights for in HEEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,327 and 505.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HEEM 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, HEEM or SPY?
HEEM has an expense ratio of 0.72% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HEEM or SPY?
Over the past year HEEM returned +24.93% vs +15.52% for SPY, so HEEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), HEEM annualized +7.56% vs +12.59% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HEEM or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 14.1% for HEEM. Worst drawdown: HEEM -33.5% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both HEEM and SPY?
HEEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, HEEM or SPY?
HEEM yields 1.72% while SPY yields 0.98%, so HEEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than HEEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. HEEM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.