IGM vs SPY
iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IGM or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IGM 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 57.7%.
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 | IGM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.14% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 301 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +26.90%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +30.89%Best | +16.29% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +36.17%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.40%Best | +13.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -65.6% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,267Best | $18,728 |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 13, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 19, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.5 years).
IGM 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 25.5 years both funds cover.
IGM vs SPY Performance
iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) 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 IGM returned +30.89% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, IGM is up 26.90% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, IGM compounded at +36.17% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +19.40% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IGM has the edge at +12.19% annualized vs +7.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IGM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 14.9% 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 -65.6% for IGM 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IGM 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, IGM currently yields 0.14% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
91.2% of IGM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.5% of SPY's money is in holdings IGM also owns.
Most of IGM is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
78 positions in common, counted across the 269 positions we hold weights for in IGM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 301 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 419 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IGM (53.8% of the fund), and 161 for IGM that do not appear in SPY (7.1%).
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 IGM | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.94% | 8.01% | 0.93% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 8.82% | 7.26% | 1.56% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 10.36% | 5.66% | 4.70% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.58% | 2.66% | 4.92% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.29% | 2.99% | 1.30% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.31% | 1.93% | 2.38% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.62% | 1.60% | 3.02% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.42% | 2.39% | 1.03% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 3.40% | 1.14% | 2.26% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 1.96% | 0.67% | 1.29% |
91.2% of IGM 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, IGM or SPY?
IGM 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, IGM or SPY?
Over the past year IGM returned +30.89% vs +16.29% for SPY, so IGM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IGM annualized +12.19% vs +7.92% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IGM or SPY?
IGM has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IGM -65.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IGM and SPY?
IGM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 IGM and SPY?
91.2% of IGM's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 45.5% of SPY's is in holdings IGM also owns. They hold 78 positions in common, counted across the 269 positions we hold weights for in IGM and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IGM or SPY?
IGM yields 0.14% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IGM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IGM 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 57.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.