IGF vs SPY
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IGF 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 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.3%.
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 | IGF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.96% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 98 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +3.42% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.73% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.65% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.62% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.5% | -54.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,829 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.3% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2007 to Sep 18, 2026 (18.8 years).
IGF 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 18.8 years both funds cover.
IGF vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Infrastructure ETF (IGF) 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 IGF returned +7.73% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, IGF is up 3.42% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, IGF compounded at +14.65% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.62% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.50% annualized vs +2.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IGF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% compared with 15.7% 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 -59.5% for IGF and -54.5% 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IGF charges 0.37% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $9 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IGF currently yields 2.96% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
34.4% of IGF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.8% of SPY's money is in holdings IGF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
17 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in IGF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 98 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IGF (97.6% of the fund), and 10 for IGF that do not appear in SPY (5.9%).
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 IGF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc | 4.75% | 0.26% | 4.49% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 3.25% | 0.14% | 3.11% |
| SOSouthern Co. | 2.75% | 0.15% | 2.60% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.64% | 0.14% | 2.50% |
| CEGConstellation Energy Corporation Com | 2.43% | 0.14% | 2.29% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 2.24% | 0.10% | 2.14% |
| TRGPTarga Resources Corp Preferred | 2.24% | 0.10% | 2.14% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 2.14% | 0.09% | 2.05% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 1.88% | 0.10% | 1.78% |
| DDominion Energy Inc. | 1.60% | 0.09% | 1.51% |
34.4% of IGF 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, IGF or SPY?
IGF has an expense ratio of 0.37% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IGF or SPY?
Over the past year IGF returned +7.73% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), IGF annualized +2.04% vs +9.50% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IGF or SPY?
IGF has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IGF -59.5% vs SPY -54.5%.
Should I hold both IGF and SPY?
IGF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 IGF and SPY?
34.4% of IGF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.8% of SPY's is in holdings IGF also owns. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 76 positions we hold weights for in IGF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IGF or SPY?
IGF yields 2.96% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IGF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IGF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.