IDYN vs SPY
iShares International Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IDYN or SPY?
IDYN has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IDYN led over 1Y and the full window. IDYN is less concentrated, with 20.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | IDYN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $110M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.81% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 200 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.28% | +12.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.88%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.09% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.69% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.5% | 12.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -12.7% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $12,488Best | $12,279 |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.5%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 5, 2025 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 7, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.1 years).
IDYN 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
IDYN vs SPY Performance
iShares International Equity Factor Rotation Active ETF (IDYN) 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 IDYN returned +20.88% while SPY returned +19.36%. Year to date, IDYN is up 11.28% versus a gain of 12.71% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IDYN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.5% compared with 12.8% 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 -12.7% for IDYN and -8.9% 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDYN charges 0.45% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $9 annually, a gap of $36 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDYN currently yields 1.81% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
2.8% of IDYN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings IDYN also owns.
IDYN and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 188 positions we hold weights for in IDYN and 503 in SPY, against full books of 200 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 491 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IDYN (99.3% of the fund), and 5 for IDYN that do not appear in SPY (2.4%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IDYN 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, IDYN or SPY?
IDYN has an expense ratio of 0.45% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $36 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDYN or SPY?
Over the past year IDYN returned +20.88% vs +19.36% for SPY, so IDYN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IDYN annualized +22.38% vs +20.52% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDYN or SPY?
IDYN has been the more volatile fund at 13.5% annualized versus 12.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IDYN -12.7% vs SPY -8.9%.
Should I hold both IDYN and SPY?
IDYN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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 IDYN and SPY?
2.8% of IDYN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings IDYN also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 188 positions we hold weights for in IDYN and 503 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDYN or SPY?
IDYN yields 1.81% while SPY yields 1.01%, so IDYN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IDYN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IDYN led over 1Y and the full window. IDYN is less concentrated, with 20.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.