INTF vs SPY
iShares International Equity Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, INTF or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. INTF led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. INTF is less concentrated, with 12.6% 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 | INTF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.90% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 504 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.46%Best | +12.22% |
| 1Y Return | +22.18%Best | +16.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.86% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.93% | +13.00%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 15.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -43.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,798 | $18,424Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 12.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 28, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 4, 2015 to Sep 17, 2026 (11.4 years).
INTF 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 11.4 years both funds cover.
INTF vs SPY Performance
iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) 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 INTF returned +22.18% while SPY returned +16.97%. Year to date, INTF is up 13.46% versus a gain of 12.22% for SPY.
Over three years, INTF compounded at +20.86% per year against +21.16% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +10.93% and +13.00% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.68% annualized vs +6.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 15.0% for INTF. 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 -43.9% for INTF 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTF 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, INTF currently yields 2.90% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
1.2% of INTF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings INTF also owns.
INTF and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 470 positions we hold weights for in INTF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 504 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for INTF (99.2% of the fund), and 6 for INTF that do not appear in SPY (1.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INTF 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, INTF or SPY?
INTF 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, INTF or SPY?
Over the past year INTF returned +22.18% vs +16.97% for SPY, so INTF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), INTF annualized +6.61% vs +12.68% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTF or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 15.0% for INTF. Worst drawdown: INTF -43.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both INTF and SPY?
INTF and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 INTF and SPY?
1.2% of INTF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's is in holdings INTF also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 470 positions we hold weights for in INTF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, INTF or SPY?
INTF yields 2.90% while SPY yields 0.98%, so INTF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than INTF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. INTF led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. INTF is less concentrated, with 12.6% 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.