IHAK vs SPY
iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IHAK or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IHAK led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | IHAK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.07% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 49 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +30.89%Best | +11.52% |
| 1Y Return | +19.85%Best | +17.48% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.03% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.85% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 16.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.4% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,927 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2019 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 13, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (7.2 years).
IHAK 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 7.2 years both funds cover.
IHAK vs SPY Performance
iShares Cybersecurity and Tech ETF (IHAK) 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 IHAK returned +19.85% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, IHAK is up 30.89% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, IHAK compounded at +16.03% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.85% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +15.38% annualized vs +13.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IHAK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 16.4% 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 -34.4% for IHAK 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IHAK charges 0.47% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $9 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IHAK currently yields 0.07% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
16.1% of IHAK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings IHAK also owns.
IHAK and SPY share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in IHAK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 49 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 490 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IHAK (98.5% of the fund), and 19 for IHAK that do not appear in SPY (60.9%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IHAK 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, IHAK or SPY?
IHAK has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IHAK or SPY?
Over the past year IHAK returned +19.85% vs +17.48% for SPY, so IHAK leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), IHAK annualized +13.37% vs +15.38% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IHAK or SPY?
IHAK has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 16.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IHAK -34.4% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IHAK and SPY?
IHAK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 IHAK and SPY?
16.1% of IHAK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings IHAK also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in IHAK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IHAK or SPY?
IHAK yields 0.07% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IHAK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IHAK led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.