IEMG vs SPY
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IEMG or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IEMG is less concentrated, with 32.3% 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 | IEMG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09%Tie | 0.09%Tie |
| AUM | $160.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.20% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 2,869 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +20.63%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +30.66%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.05%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.95% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.2% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,659 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.3%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 11, 2026 (13.9 years).
IEMG 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 13.9 years both funds cover.
IEMG vs SPY Performance
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) 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 IEMG returned +30.66% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, IEMG is up 20.63% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, IEMG compounded at +22.05% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.95% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs +4.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IEMG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% 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 -42.2% for IEMG and -34.1% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IEMG charges 0.09% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $9 annually. On income, IEMG currently yields 2.20% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IEMG's money is in holdings SPY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 2,795 positions we hold weights for in IEMG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 2,869 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IEMG (99.5% of the fund), and 25 for IEMG that do not appear in SPY (1.2%).
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 IEMG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAL:MBHindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 0.06% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IEMG 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, IEMG or SPY?
IEMG has an expense ratio of 0.09% while SPY charges 0.09%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, IEMG or SPY?
Over the past year IEMG returned +30.66% vs +17.51% for SPY, so IEMG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), IEMG annualized +4.87% vs +13.41% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IEMG or SPY?
IEMG has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IEMG -42.2% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IEMG and SPY?
IEMG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, IEMG or SPY?
IEMG yields 2.20% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IEMG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IEMG?
IEMG led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IEMG is less concentrated, with 32.3% 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.