ILDR vs SPY
First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ILDR or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ILDR led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%.
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 | ILDR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $318M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 164 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.56%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +18.77%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +29.00%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.78% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.3% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.6% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,684 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 25, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2021 to Sep 16, 2026 (5.3 years).
ILDR 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 5.3 years both funds cover.
ILDR vs SPY Performance
First Trust Innovation Leaders ETF (ILDR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ILDR returned +18.77% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, ILDR is up 14.56% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, ILDR compounded at +29.00% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.78% and +12.53% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ILDR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.3% compared with 15.4% 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 -44.6% for ILDR 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILDR charges 0.75% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $9 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILDR currently yields 0.00% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
63.6% of ILDR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.7% of SPY's money is in holdings ILDR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 81 positions we hold weights for in ILDR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 164 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 465 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ILDR (63.7% of the fund), and 37 for ILDR that do not appear in SPY (22.7%).
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 ILDR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 9.84% | 8.01% | 1.83% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 5.51% | 3.79% | 1.72% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.74% | 2.99% | 1.75% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.93% | 5.66% | 3.73% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 3.74% | 2.66% | 1.08% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.33% | 1.14% | 3.19% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.07% | 1.40% | 1.67% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.67% | 1.60% | 1.07% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.87% | 1.93% | 0.06% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.87% | 1.52% | 0.35% |
63.6% of ILDR 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, ILDR or SPY?
ILDR has an expense ratio of 0.75% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILDR or SPY?
Over the past year ILDR returned +18.77% vs +15.52% for SPY, so ILDR leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILDR or SPY?
ILDR has been the more volatile fund at 23.3% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ILDR -44.6% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both ILDR and SPY?
ILDR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 ILDR and SPY?
63.6% of ILDR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 35.7% of SPY's is in holdings ILDR also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 81 positions we hold weights for in ILDR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILDR or SPY?
ILDR yields 0.00% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ILDR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ILDR led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.