IRTR vs SPY
iShares LifePath Retirement ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IRTR or SPY?
Target Date against Large Cap Blend.
IRTR has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 96.8%.
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 | IRTR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $59M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.13% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 15 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +5.13% | +13.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.14% | +16.96%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.56% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.7%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.3%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $14,093 | $18,665Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 96.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Target Date | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 17, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 19, 2023 to Sep 21, 2026 (2.9 years).
IRTR 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
IRTR vs SPY Performance
iShares LifePath Retirement ETF (IRTR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year IRTR returned +7.14% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, IRTR is up 5.13% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, IRTR compounded at +12.56% per year against +22.97% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 6.7% for IRTR. 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 -6.3% for IRTR 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IRTR charges 0.08% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $9 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IRTR currently yields 3.13% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 14 holdings in IRTR and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.8% and 99.9% 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 14 positions we hold weights for in IRTR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 15 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 14 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 497 positions IRTR does not, 99.3% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 8.01%, AAPL 7.26%, MSFT 5.66%, AMZN 3.79%, GOOGL 2.99%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IRTR 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, IRTR or SPY?
IRTR has an expense ratio of 0.08% while SPY charges 0.09%. IRTR is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IRTR or SPY?
Over the past year IRTR returned +7.14% vs +16.96% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IRTR or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 6.7% for IRTR. Worst drawdown: IRTR -6.3% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both IRTR and SPY?
IRTR and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, IRTR or SPY?
IRTR yields 3.13% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IRTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IRTR?
IRTR has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 96.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.