IHE vs SPY
iShares US Pharmaceutical ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IHE or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IHE led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.9%.
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 | IHE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.7B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.43% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 60 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +20.46%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +46.24%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.92% | +22.52%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.09% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.6%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,694 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 75.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 5, 2006 to Sep 23, 2026 (20.4 years).
IHE 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 20.4 years both funds cover.
IHE vs SPY Performance
iShares US Pharmaceutical ETF (IHE) 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 IHE returned +46.24% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, IHE is up 20.46% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, IHE compounded at +20.92% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.09% and +13.07% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IHE has the edge at +9.76% annualized vs +9.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IHE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.2% 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 -39.6% for IHE 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IHE 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, IHE currently yields 1.43% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
65.3% of IHE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's money is in holdings IHE also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
7 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in IHE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 60 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 490 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IHE (95.8% of the fund), and 48 for IHE that do not appear in SPY (32.4%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
65.3% of IHE 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, IHE or SPY?
IHE 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, IHE or SPY?
Over the past year IHE returned +46.24% vs +16.73% for SPY, so IHE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IHE annualized +9.76% vs +9.40% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IHE or SPY?
IHE has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IHE -39.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IHE and SPY?
IHE 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.
What is the holdings overlap between IHE and SPY?
65.3% of IHE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's is in holdings IHE also owns. They hold 7 positions in common, counted across the 57 positions we hold weights for in IHE and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IHE or SPY?
IHE yields 1.43% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IHE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IHE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IHE led over 1Y and the full window, SPY over 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 75.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.