IMOM vs SPY
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Momentum ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IMOM or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IMOM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IMOM is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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 | IMOM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $159M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.38% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 55 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +7.34% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.12%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.12%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.41% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,014 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 22.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 23, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.7 years).
IMOM 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 10.7 years both funds cover.
IMOM vs SPY Performance
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Momentum ETF (IMOM) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IMOM returned +23.12% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, IMOM is up 7.34% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, IMOM compounded at +22.12% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.41% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.90% annualized vs +6.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IMOM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 15.1% 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 -45.7% for IMOM and -34.1% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IMOM charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IMOM currently yields 2.38% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in IMOM and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 100.0% 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 51 positions we hold weights for in IMOM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 55 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IMOM (99.5% of the fund), and 1 for IMOM that do not appear in SPY (2.0%).
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 IMOM 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, IMOM or SPY?
IMOM has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IMOM or SPY?
Over the past year IMOM returned +23.12% vs +19.97% for SPY, so IMOM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), IMOM annualized +6.84% vs +13.90% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IMOM or SPY?
IMOM has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IMOM -45.7% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IMOM and SPY?
IMOM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, IMOM or SPY?
IMOM yields 2.38% while SPY yields 1.01%, so IMOM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IMOM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IMOM led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IMOM is less concentrated, with 22.9% 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.