IPOS vs SPY
Renaissance International IPO ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IPOS or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IPOS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.9%.
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 | IPOS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.36% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 55 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +34.99%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +43.24%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.92% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -6.42% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.7% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.1% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,177 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 63.9% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | Renaissance Capital | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 6, 2014 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 7, 2014 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.9 years).
IPOS 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
IPOS vs SPY Performance
Renaissance International IPO ETF (IPOS) 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 IPOS returned +43.24% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, IPOS is up 34.99% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, IPOS compounded at +17.92% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -6.42% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.01% annualized vs +1.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IPOS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 14.9% 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 -73.1% for IPOS 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IPOS charges 0.80% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $9 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IPOS currently yields 0.36% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in IPOS and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.9% 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 50 positions we hold weights for in IPOS 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 IPOS (99.5% of the fund), and 0 for IPOS that do not appear in SPY (0.0%).
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 IPOS 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, IPOS or SPY?
IPOS has an expense ratio of 0.80% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IPOS or SPY?
Over the past year IPOS returned +43.24% vs +19.97% for SPY, so IPOS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IPOS annualized +1.47% vs +13.01% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IPOS or SPY?
IPOS has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 14.9% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IPOS -73.1% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IPOS and SPY?
IPOS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, IPOS or SPY?
IPOS yields 0.36% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IPOS?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IPOS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 63.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.