IQDY vs SPY
Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Dynamic ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IQDY or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IQDY led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IQDY is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | IQDY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $114M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.89% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 252 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.29%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +31.61%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.41%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.50% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.3% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,020 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.9%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 12, 2013 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 16, 2013 to Sep 11, 2026 (13.4 years).
IQDY 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
IQDY vs SPY Performance
Northern Trust International Quality Dividend Dynamic ETF (IQDY) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IQDY returned +31.61% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, IQDY is up 19.29% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, IQDY compounded at +25.41% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.50% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.13% annualized vs +6.52%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IQDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 14.4% 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 -45.3% for IQDY 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IQDY charges 0.47% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $9 annually, a gap of $38 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IQDY currently yields 2.89% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.2% of IQDY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings IQDY also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 200 positions we hold weights for in IQDY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 252 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 493 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IQDY (99.5% of the fund), and 2 for IQDY that do not appear in SPY (0.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IQDY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 0.19% | 0.06% | 0.13% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IQDY 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, IQDY or SPY?
IQDY has an expense ratio of 0.47% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $38 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IQDY or SPY?
Over the past year IQDY returned +31.61% vs +17.51% for SPY, so IQDY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), IQDY annualized +6.52% vs +13.13% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IQDY or SPY?
IQDY has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 14.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IQDY -45.3% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IQDY and SPY?
IQDY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, IQDY or SPY?
IQDY yields 2.89% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IQDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IQDY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IQDY led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. IQDY is less concentrated, with 20.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.