IRET vs SPY
iREIT - MarketVector Quality REIT Index ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IRET or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. IRET is less concentrated, with 35.1% 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 | IRET | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.17% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 36 | 505 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4% | -18.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $11,605 | $14,684Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.1%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iREIT | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 5, 2024 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 128 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IRET has data through May 5, 2026 and SPY through Sep 10, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 6, 2024 to May 5, 2026 (2.2 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IRET has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 12.6% 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 -24.4% for IRET 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IRET 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, IRET currently yields 4.17% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
41.3% of IRET's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings IRET also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 216 days apart, IRET as of Dec 31, 2025 and SPY as of Aug 4, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
13 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in IRET and 504 in SPY, against full books of 36 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IRET (98.5% of the fund), and 19 for IRET that do not appear in SPY (54.5%).
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 IRET | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 3.69% | 0.05% | 3.64% |
| EQIXEquinix, Inc. | 3.52% | 0.16% | 3.36% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 3.51% | 0.08% | 3.43% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 3.32% | 0.19% | 3.13% |
| WELLWelltower Inc | 3.24% | 0.25% | 2.99% |
| FRTFederal Realty Investment Trust | 3.46% | 0.01% | 3.45% |
| KIMKimco Realty Corp. | 3.44% | 0.03% | 3.41% |
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 3.42% | 0.04% | 3.38% |
| INVHInvitation Homes Inc | 3.39% | 0.03% | 3.36% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corp | 3.25% | 0.12% | 3.13% |
41.3% of IRET is already inside SPY.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IRET or SPY?
IRET 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 is riskier, IRET or SPY?
IRET has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 12.6% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IRET -24.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both IRET and SPY?
IRET and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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 IRET and SPY?
41.3% of IRET's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings IRET also owns. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 32 positions we hold weights for in IRET and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IRET or SPY?
IRET yields 4.17% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IRET currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IRET?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. IRET is less concentrated, with 35.1% 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.