IJK vs SPY
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IJK or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IJK led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. IJK is less concentrated, with 14.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | IJK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.54% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 252 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.05% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.61% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.99% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.46% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.6%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,330 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.5%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 24, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 28, 2000 to Sep 18, 2026 (26.1 years).
IJK 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 26.1 years both funds cover.
IJK vs SPY Performance
iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF (IJK) 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 IJK returned +13.61% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, IJK is up 12.05% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, IJK compounded at +14.99% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.46% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IJK has the edge at +7.85% annualized vs +6.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IJK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% 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 -54.6% for IJK 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IJK charges 0.16% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $16 vs $9 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IJK currently yields 0.54% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 247 holdings in IJK and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.9% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in IJK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 252 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IJK (99.3% of the fund), and 238 for IJK that do not appear in SPY (94.3%).
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 IJK 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, IJK or SPY?
IJK has an expense ratio of 0.16% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IJK or SPY?
Over the past year IJK returned +13.61% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IJK annualized +7.85% vs +6.94% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IJK or SPY?
IJK has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IJK -54.6% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IJK and SPY?
IJK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IJK or SPY?
IJK yields 0.54% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IJK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IJK led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. IJK is less concentrated, with 14.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.