ISCB vs SPY
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ISCB or SPY?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
ISCB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | ISCB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $282M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.27% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,587 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.61% | +12.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.35% | +16.29%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.25% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.07% | +13.37%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,071 | $18,728Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2004 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 2, 2004 to Sep 18, 2026 (22.2 years).
ISCB 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 22.2 years both funds cover.
ISCB vs SPY Performance
iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF (ISCB) 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 ISCB returned +14.35% while SPY returned +16.29%. Year to date, ISCB is up 11.61% versus a gain of 12.09% for SPY.
Over three years, ISCB compounded at +16.25% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.07% and +13.37% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.34% annualized vs +7.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISCB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% compared with 14.7% 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 -61.9% for ISCB and -56.5% 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISCB charges 0.04% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $9 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISCB currently yields 1.27% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ISCB also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ISCB, our book for it covers 93.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SPY and ISCB share little of their money.
61 positions in common, counted across the 1,340 positions we hold weights for in ISCB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,587 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ISCB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENGen Digital Inc | 0.27% | 0.03% | 0.24% |
| ZBRAZebra Technologies Corp | 0.27% | 0.02% | 0.25% |
| IEXI D E X Corporation | 0.25% | 0.03% | 0.22% |
| NDSNNordson Corp | 0.25% | 0.03% | 0.22% |
| BBYBest Buy Co. Inc. | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| AKAMAkamai Technologies Inc. | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
| MASMasco Corp. | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
| APAApa Corp | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
| RVTYRevvity Inc | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
| SWKStanley Black Decker Inc. | 0.23% | 0.02% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISCB 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, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB has an expense ratio of 0.04% while SPY charges 0.09%. ISCB is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISCB or SPY?
Over the past year ISCB returned +14.35% vs +16.29% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), ISCB annualized +7.75% vs +9.34% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 14.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ISCB -61.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ISCB and SPY?
ISCB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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 ISCB and SPY?
At least 1.1% of SPY's money is in holdings ISCB also owns. Our book for ISCB is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 1,340 positions we hold weights for in ISCB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ISCB or SPY?
ISCB yields 1.27% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ISCB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ISCB?
ISCB has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.