IBHL vs SPY
iShares iBonds 2032 Term High Yield and Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IBHL or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y 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 | IBHL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $32M | $811.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.23% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 220 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | -5.54% | +13.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.51% | +16.25%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.72% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.95% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.7%Best | 11.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.1%Best | -12.7% |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,187 | $13,705Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 25, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 26, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.5 years).
IBHL 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 1.5 years both funds cover.
IBHL vs SPY Performance
iShares iBonds 2032 Term High Yield and Income ETF (IBHL) 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 IBHL returned -4.51% while SPY returned +16.25%. Year to date, IBHL is down 5.54% versus a gain of 13.54% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.7% compared with 4.7% for IBHL. 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 -6.1% for IBHL and -12.7% 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBHL charges 0.35% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $9 annually, a gap of $26 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBHL currently yields 6.23% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 174 holdings in IBHL and 504 in SPY, totalling 80.9% and 99.8% 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 174 positions we hold weights for in IBHL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 220 and 1,515.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBHL 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, IBHL or SPY?
IBHL has an expense ratio of 0.35% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBHL or SPY?
Over the past year IBHL returned -4.51% vs +16.25% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), IBHL annualized +1.24% vs +23.38% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBHL or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 11.7% annualized versus 4.7% for IBHL. Worst drawdown: IBHL -6.1% vs SPY -12.7%.
Should I hold both IBHL and SPY?
IBHL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, IBHL or SPY?
IBHL yields 6.23% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IBHL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IBHL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.