ICLN vs SPY
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ICLN or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ICLN led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.9%.
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 | ICLN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 152 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.55% | +13.81%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.30%Best | +16.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.99% | +22.84%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -3.06% | +13.50%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.8% | 15.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.3% | -48.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,561 | $18,836Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2008 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2008 to Sep 22, 2026 (18.2 years).
ICLN 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 18.2 years both funds cover.
ICLN vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) 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 ICLN returned +17.30% while SPY returned +16.94%. Year to date, ICLN is up 4.55% versus a gain of 13.81% for SPY.
Over three years, ICLN compounded at +7.99% per year against +22.84% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -3.06% and +13.50% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +10.63% annualized vs -5.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ICLN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.8% compared with 15.6% 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 -88.3% for ICLN and -48.3% 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ICLN charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICLN currently yields 1.06% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
7.9% of ICLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
ICLN and SPY share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 152 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ICLN (99.3% of the fund), and 14 for ICLN that do not appear in SPY (29.8%).
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 ICLN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSLRFirst Solar, Inc | 7.87% | 0.03% | 7.84% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ICLN 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, ICLN or SPY?
ICLN has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ICLN or SPY?
Over the past year ICLN returned +17.30% vs +16.94% for SPY, so ICLN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), ICLN annualized -5.35% vs +10.63% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ICLN or SPY?
ICLN has been the more volatile fund at 30.8% annualized versus 15.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ICLN -88.3% vs SPY -48.3%.
Should I hold both ICLN and SPY?
ICLN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 ICLN and SPY?
7.9% of ICLN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.0% of SPY's is in holdings ICLN also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 103 positions we hold weights for in ICLN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ICLN or SPY?
ICLN yields 1.06% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ICLN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ICLN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ICLN led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.