INTL vs SPY
Main International ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, INTL or SPY?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
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 | INTL | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $247M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.42% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 10 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.32% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.64% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.97% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $16,946 | $20,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2022 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (3.8 years).
INTL 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
INTL vs SPY Performance
Main International ETF (INTL) is an ETF from Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, INTL is up 12.32% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, INTL compounded at +16.97% per year against +21.20% for SPY. Across the full 4-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +20.08% annualized vs +14.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
INTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 12.5% 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 -14.5% for INTL and -18.8% 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTL charges 0.84% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $9 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INTL currently yields 3.42% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in INTL 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 9 positions we hold weights for in INTL and 504 in SPY, against full books of 10 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 9 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 496 positions INTL 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 INTL 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, INTL or SPY?
INTL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INTL or SPY?
Over the past year INTL returned +18.64% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), INTL annualized +14.89% vs +20.08% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTL or SPY?
INTL has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 12.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: INTL -14.5% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both INTL and SPY?
INTL and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, INTL or SPY?
INTL yields 3.42% while SPY yields 1.01%, so INTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than INTL?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.