IBRN vs SPY
iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IBRN or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IBRN led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%.
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 | IBRN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.82% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 80 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.12% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +36.20%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.45% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.4% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.1 years | $14,622 | $20,230Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.0% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 24, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 26, 2022 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.1 years).
IBRN 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 4.1 years both funds cover.
IBRN vs SPY Performance
iShares Neuroscience and Healthcare ETF (IBRN) 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 IBRN returned +36.20% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, IBRN is up 11.12% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, IBRN compounded at +19.45% per year against +22.97% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +18.75% annualized vs +9.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IBRN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% compared with 14.2% 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 -35.4% for IBRN and -18.8% 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 0.41. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IBRN charges 0.47% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $9 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IBRN currently yields 0.82% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
4.2% of IBRN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings IBRN also owns.
IBRN and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in IBRN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 80 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IBRN (99.3% of the fund), and 47 for IBRN that do not appear in SPY (67.3%).
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 IBRN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIIBBiogen Inc. Com | 4.19% | 0.05% | 4.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IBRN 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, IBRN or SPY?
IBRN has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IBRN or SPY?
Over the past year IBRN returned +36.20% vs +16.96% for SPY, so IBRN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), IBRN annualized +9.71% vs +18.75% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IBRN or SPY?
IBRN has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IBRN -35.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both IBRN and SPY?
IBRN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.41, 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 IBRN and SPY?
4.2% of IBRN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings IBRN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in IBRN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IBRN or SPY?
IBRN yields 0.82% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IBRN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IBRN led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.