IPO vs SPY
Renaissance IPO ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IPO or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth 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 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.1%.
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 | IPO | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $143M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.44% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 53 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +14.37%Best | +13.51% |
| 1Y Return | +8.23% | +18.19%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.92% | +23.29%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.37% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.1% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -68.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,998 | $18,596Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.1% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Renaissance Capital | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 16, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 16, 2013 to Sep 25, 2026 (12.9 years).
IPO 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 12.9 years both funds cover.
IPO vs SPY Performance
Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO) is an ETF from Renaissance Capital and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IPO returned +8.23% while SPY returned +18.19%. Year to date, IPO is up 14.37% versus a gain of 13.51% for SPY.
Over three years, IPO compounded at +20.92% per year against +23.29% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -4.37% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.94% annualized vs +7.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IPO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.1% compared with 14.5% 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 -68.8% for IPO 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IPO charges 0.60% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $9 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IPO currently yields 0.44% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
8.7% of IPO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.5% of SPY's money is in holdings IPO also owns.
IPO and SPY share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in IPO and 504 in SPY, against full books of 53 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 495 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IPO (98.9% of the fund), and 44 for IPO that do not appear in SPY (80.0%).
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 IPO 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, IPO or SPY?
IPO has an expense ratio of 0.60% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IPO or SPY?
Over the past year IPO returned +8.23% vs +18.19% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), IPO annualized +7.89% vs +12.94% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IPO or SPY?
IPO has been the more volatile fund at 26.1% annualized versus 14.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IPO -68.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IPO and SPY?
IPO and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 IPO and SPY?
8.7% of IPO's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.5% of SPY's is in holdings IPO also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in IPO and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IPO or SPY?
IPO yields 0.44% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IPO?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.