IDU vs SPY
iShares US Utilities ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IDU or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.1%.
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 | IDU | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.22% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 49 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +1.17% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.81% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.37% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.95% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.4%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,659 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 52.1% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 20, 2000 to Sep 4, 2026 (26.2 years).
IDU 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 26.2 years both funds cover.
IDU vs SPY Performance
iShares US Utilities ETF (IDU) 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 IDU returned +4.81% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, IDU is up 1.17% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, IDU compounded at +15.37% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.95% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.80% annualized vs +5.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 15.0% for IDU. 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 -56.4% for IDU 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDU charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDU currently yields 2.22% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
93.3% of IDU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's money is in holdings IDU also owns.
Most of IDU is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
33 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in IDU and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 463 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IDU (97.2% of the fund), and 11 for IDU that do not appear in SPY (5.8%).
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 IDU | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 11.29% | 0.27% | 11.02% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 6.53% | 0.16% | 6.37% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 6.00% | 0.15% | 5.85% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 5.32% | 0.13% | 5.19% |
| WMWaste Mgmt | 5.20% | 0.13% | 5.07% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 4.34% | 0.10% | 4.24% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 3.78% | 0.09% | 3.69% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 3.51% | 0.09% | 3.42% |
| ETREntergy Corp. | 3.09% | 0.07% | 3.02% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.01% | 0.07% | 2.94% |
93.3% of IDU 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, IDU or SPY?
IDU has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDU or SPY?
Over the past year IDU returned +4.81% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IDU annualized +5.07% vs +6.80% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDU or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 15.0% for IDU. Worst drawdown: IDU -56.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IDU and SPY?
IDU and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 IDU and SPY?
93.3% of IDU's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 2.3% of SPY's is in holdings IDU also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 46 positions we hold weights for in IDU and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDU or SPY?
IDU yields 2.22% while SPY yields 1.01%, so IDU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IDU?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.