ISCF vs SPY
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ISCF or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY 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 | ISCF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $684M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.62% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 1,188 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.50% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.65% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.35% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.72% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.6% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,504 | $18,270Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 28, 2015 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 1, 2015 to Sep 4, 2026 (11.3 years).
ISCF 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 11.3 years both funds cover.
ISCF vs SPY Performance
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF) 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 ISCF returned +19.65% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ISCF is up 12.50% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ISCF compounded at +19.35% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.72% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +12.84% annualized vs +7.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISCF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.2% 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 -43.6% for ISCF 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISCF charges 0.24% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $9 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISCF currently yields 3.62% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,011 holdings in ISCF and 504 in SPY, totalling 93.0% and 100.0% of the two funds. That is not enough of ISCF to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,011 positions we hold weights for in ISCF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,188 and 505.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ISCF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFEurazeo | 0.08% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISCF 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, ISCF or SPY?
ISCF has an expense ratio of 0.24% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISCF or SPY?
Over the past year ISCF returned +19.65% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), ISCF annualized +7.50% vs +12.84% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISCF or SPY?
ISCF has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ISCF -43.6% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ISCF and SPY?
ISCF 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, ISCF or SPY?
ISCF yields 3.62% while SPY yields 1.01%, so ISCF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ISCF?
SPY 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.