ISPY vs SPY
ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ISPY or SPY?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%.
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 | ISPY | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.56% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.01% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 512 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.73% | +11.97%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.23% | +16.40%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $12,016 | $16,630Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.7% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2023 to Sep 14, 2026 (2.7 years).
ISPY 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
ISPY vs SPY Performance
ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY) is an ETF from ProShares and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ISPY returned +8.23% while SPY returned +16.40%. Year to date, ISPY is up 4.73% versus a gain of 11.97% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 11.8% 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 -18.4% for ISPY 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISPY charges 0.56% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $56 vs $9 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISPY currently yields 5.01% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
83.2% of ISPY's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ISPY also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside ISPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
493 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in ISPY and 504 in SPY, against full books of 512 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 9 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ISPY (1.1% of the fund), and 3 for ISPY that do not appear in SPY (12.8%).
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 ISPY | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 6.80% | 8.01% | 1.21% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.92% | 7.26% | 1.34% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 4.80% | 5.66% | 0.86% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.24% | 3.79% | 0.55% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.53% | 2.99% | 0.46% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.23% | 2.66% | 0.43% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.02% | 2.39% | 0.37% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.60% | 1.93% | 0.33% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.38% | 1.60% | 0.22% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.32% | 1.52% | 0.20% |
98.6% of SPY is already inside ISPY.
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, ISPY or SPY?
ISPY has an expense ratio of 0.56% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISPY or SPY?
Over the past year ISPY returned +8.23% vs +16.40% 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, ISPY or SPY?
ISPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 11.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ISPY -18.4% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both ISPY and SPY?
ISPY and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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 ISPY and SPY?
98.6% of SPY's money is in holdings ISPY also owns. 98.6% of SPY's is in holdings ISPY also owns. They hold 493 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in ISPY and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ISPY or SPY?
ISPY yields 5.01% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ISPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ISPY?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.