ILCB vs SPY
iShares Morningstar US Equity ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ILCB or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. ILCB costs less.
ILCB has a lower expense ratio. ILCB led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. ILCB is less concentrated, with 37.0% 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 | ILCB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $1.3B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.96% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 533 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.45%Best | +12.09% |
| 1Y Return | +16.29%Tie | +16.29%Tie |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.52%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.95% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Tie | 14.7%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -52.8%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,384 | $18,728Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.0%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2004 to Sep 18, 2026 (22.2 years).
ILCB 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 22.2 years both funds cover.
ILCB vs SPY Performance
iShares Morningstar US Equity ETF (ILCB) 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 ILCB returned +16.29% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, ILCB is up 12.45% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, ILCB compounded at +21.52% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.95% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, ILCB has the edge at +9.59% annualized vs +9.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ILCB and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 14.7% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -52.8% for ILCB 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILCB charges 0.03% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILCB currently yields 0.96% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
95.2% of ILCB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 97.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ILCB also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside ILCB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
416 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in ILCB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 533 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 84 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ILCB (2.3% of the fund), and 72 for ILCB that do not appear in SPY (3.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ILCB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.72% | 8.01% | 0.29% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.93% | 7.26% | 0.33% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.62% | 5.66% | 0.04% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.80% | 3.79% | 0.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.96% | 2.99% | 0.03% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.57% | 2.66% | 0.09% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.36% | 2.39% | 0.03% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.87% | 1.93% | 0.06% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.61% | 1.60% | 0.01% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.55% | 1.52% | 0.03% |
97.1% of SPY is already inside ILCB.
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, ILCB or SPY?
ILCB has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPY charges 0.09%. ILCB is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILCB or SPY?
Over the past year ILCB returned +16.29% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), ILCB annualized +9.59% vs +9.34% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILCB or SPY?
ILCB and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 14.7% annualized. Worst drawdown: ILCB -52.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ILCB and SPY?
ILCB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between ILCB and SPY?
97.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ILCB also owns. 97.1% of SPY's is in holdings ILCB also owns. They hold 416 positions in common, counted across the 501 positions we hold weights for in ILCB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILCB or SPY?
ILCB yields 0.96% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ILCB?
ILCB has a lower expense ratio. ILCB led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. ILCB is less concentrated, with 37.0% 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.