IHYF vs SPY
Invesco High Yield Bond Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IHYF or SPY?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. IHYF is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | IHYF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $134M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.50% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 432 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.9%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.0% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5.2 years | $12,361 | $20,101Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.1%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 30, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 202 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IHYF has data through Feb 20, 2026 and SPY through Sep 10, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2020 to Feb 20, 2026 (5.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 6.9% for IHYF. 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 -36.0% for IHYF and -24.5% 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IHYF charges 0.39% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $9 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IHYF currently yields 6.50% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 396 holdings in IHYF and 504 in SPY, totalling 96.3% and 100.0% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 308 days apart, IHYF as of Sep 30, 2025 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 396 positions we hold weights for in IHYF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 432 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IHYF (99.5% of the fund), and 393 for IHYF that do not appear in SPY (96.0%).
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 IHYF 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, IHYF or SPY?
IHYF has an expense ratio of 0.39% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, IHYF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 6.9% for IHYF. Worst drawdown: IHYF -36.0% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both IHYF and SPY?
IHYF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IHYF or SPY?
IHYF yields 6.50% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IHYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IHYF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. IHYF is less concentrated, with 6.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.