IHF vs SPY
iShares US Health Care Providers ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IHF or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
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 71.8%.
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 | IHF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.92% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 64 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +16.20%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +16.40% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.86% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.95% | +13.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.5% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,014 | $19,027Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 71.8% | 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 21, 2026 (20.4 years).
IHF 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.
IHF vs SPY Performance
iShares US Health Care Providers ETF (IHF) 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 IHF returned +16.40% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, IHF is up 16.20% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, IHF compounded at +4.86% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +1.95% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.44% annualized vs +9.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IHF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.5% 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 -58.8% for IHF 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
IHF 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, IHF currently yields 0.92% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
73.9% of IHF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's money is in holdings IHF also owns.
Most of IHF is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
12 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in IHF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 64 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 60 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 485 positions IHF does not, 98.0% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IHF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNHUnitedhealth Group, Inc. | 20.14% | 0.55% | 19.59% |
| CVSCvs Corp | 13.18% | 0.19% | 12.99% |
| ELVElevance Health Inc | 7.09% | 0.13% | 6.96% |
| VEEVVeeva Systems Inc | 6.28% | 0.06% | 6.22% |
| HCAHca-the Healthcare Co | 4.67% | 0.10% | 4.57% |
| HUMHumana Inc. | 4.43% | 0.07% | 4.36% |
| CNCCentene | 4.15% | 0.05% | 4.10% |
| LHLabcorp Holdings Inc | 4.00% | 0.04% | 3.96% |
| CICigna Corp. | 3.93% | 0.11% | 3.82% |
| DGXQuest Diagnostics Inc | 3.90% | 0.04% | 3.86% |
73.9% of IHF 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, IHF or SPY?
IHF 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, IHF or SPY?
Over the past year IHF returned +16.40% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), IHF annualized +9.18% vs +9.44% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IHF or SPY?
IHF has been the more volatile fund at 19.5% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IHF -58.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IHF and SPY?
IHF 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 IHF and SPY?
73.9% of IHF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.4% of SPY's is in holdings IHF also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 60 positions we hold weights for in IHF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IHF or SPY?
IHF yields 0.92% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IHF?
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 71.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.