INKM vs SPY
State Street Income Allocation ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, INKM or SPY?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 86.5%.
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 | INKM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $80M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.75% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 16 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.39% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.65% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.89% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.99% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.4%Best | 14.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,161 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 86.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 10, 2026 (14.4 years).
INKM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
INKM vs SPY Performance
State Street Income Allocation ETF (INKM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year INKM returned +7.65% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, INKM is up 5.39% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, INKM compounded at +9.89% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +3.99% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.04% annualized vs +2.70%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 9.4% for INKM. 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 -28.6% for INKM 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INKM charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INKM currently yields 4.75% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 16 holdings in INKM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.7% 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 16 positions we hold weights for in INKM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 16 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 16 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 494 positions INKM does not, 99.5% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INKM 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, INKM or SPY?
INKM has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INKM or SPY?
Over the past year INKM returned +7.65% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), INKM annualized +2.70% vs +13.04% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INKM or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 9.4% for INKM. Worst drawdown: INKM -28.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both INKM and SPY?
INKM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, INKM or SPY?
INKM yields 4.75% while SPY yields 0.98%, so INKM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than INKM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 86.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.