IBB vs SPY
iShares Biotechnology ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IBB or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IBB led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%.
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 | IBB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.44% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10.5B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.22% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 253 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +26.62%Best | +13.78% |
| 1Y Return | +52.63%Best | +21.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.95% | +21.38%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.26% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.0% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,319 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 44.9% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 5, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 9, 2001 to Sep 3, 2026 (25.6 years).
IBB 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 25.6 years both funds cover.
IBB vs SPY Performance
iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) 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 IBB returned +52.63% while SPY returned +21.44%. Year to date, IBB is up 26.62% versus a gain of 13.78% for SPY.
Over three years, IBB compounded at +18.95% per year against +21.38% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.26% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IBB has the edge at +7.55% annualized vs +7.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IBB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.0% compared with 15.0% 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 -62.9% for IBB 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBB charges 0.44% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $44 vs $9 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBB currently yields 0.22% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
35.9% of IBB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings IBB also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
9 positions in common, counted across the 242 positions we hold weights for in IBB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 253 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IBB (98.5% of the fund), and 202 for IBB that do not appear in SPY (52.1%).
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 IBB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VRTXNvaesrtex Pharmaceuticals Inc | 8.38% | 0.18% | 8.20% |
| AMGNAmgen Inc. | 7.70% | 0.32% | 7.38% |
| GILDGilead Sciences | 6.82% | 0.25% | 6.57% |
| REGNRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 4.97% | 0.11% | 4.86% |
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 2.31% | 0.05% | 2.26% |
| MRNAModerna therapeutics | 2.25% | 0.03% | 2.22% |
| INCYIncyte Corp. | 1.74% | 0.03% | 1.71% |
| TECHBio-Techne Corp | 0.84% | 0.02% | 0.82% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 0.84% | 0.02% | 0.82% |
35.9% of IBB 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, IBB or SPY?
IBB has an expense ratio of 0.44% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBB or SPY?
Over the past year IBB returned +52.63% vs +21.44% for SPY, so IBB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IBB annualized +7.55% vs +7.48% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBB or SPY?
IBB has been the more volatile fund at 22.0% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IBB -62.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IBB and SPY?
IBB 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.
What is the holdings overlap between IBB and SPY?
35.9% of IBB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings IBB also owns. They hold 9 positions in common, counted across the 242 positions we hold weights for in IBB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IBB or SPY?
IBB yields 0.22% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IBB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IBB led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 44.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.