ITAN vs SPY
Sparkline Intangible Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ITAN or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ITAN led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. ITAN is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | ITAN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $117M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 160 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +19.72%Best | +12.99% |
| 1Y Return | +29.19%Best | +16.73% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.80%Best | +22.52% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.64% | +13.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -30.4% | -24.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,133 | $18,481Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | Sparkline Capital | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 29, 2021 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 29, 2021 to Sep 23, 2026 (5.2 years).
ITAN 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 5.2 years both funds cover.
ITAN vs SPY Performance
Sparkline Intangible Value ETF (ITAN) is an ETF from Sparkline Capital and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ITAN returned +29.19% while SPY returned +16.73%. Year to date, ITAN is up 19.72% versus a gain of 12.99% for SPY.
Over three years, ITAN compounded at +24.80% per year against +22.52% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +12.64% and +13.07% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ITAN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 15.5% 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 -30.4% for ITAN and -24.5% 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITAN charges 0.50% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $9 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITAN currently yields 0.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
76.5% of ITAN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 19.8% of SPY's money is in holdings ITAN also owns.
Most of ITAN is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
98 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in ITAN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 160 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 399 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ITAN (79.5% of the fund), and 55 for ITAN that do not appear in SPY (20.2%).
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 ITAN | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.80% | 3.79% | 1.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 0.87% | 2.99% | 2.12% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.86% | 2.39% | 1.53% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.38% | 0.67% | 1.71% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 2.09% | 0.56% | 1.53% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.81% | 0.66% | 1.15% |
| CRMSalesforce Inc Crm Us Equity | 2.06% | 0.32% | 1.74% |
| IBMInternational Business Machines Corp. | 1.81% | 0.33% | 1.48% |
| QCOMQualcomm Inc. | 1.62% | 0.27% | 1.35% |
| TBBAt&t Inc | 1.56% | 0.27% | 1.29% |
76.5% of ITAN 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, ITAN or SPY?
ITAN has an expense ratio of 0.50% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITAN or SPY?
Over the past year ITAN returned +29.19% vs +16.73% for SPY, so ITAN leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITAN or SPY?
ITAN has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ITAN -30.4% vs SPY -24.5%.
Should I hold both ITAN and SPY?
ITAN and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ITAN and SPY?
76.5% of ITAN's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 19.8% of SPY's is in holdings ITAN also owns. They hold 98 positions in common, counted across the 160 positions we hold weights for in ITAN and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITAN or SPY?
ITAN yields 0.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ITAN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ITAN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ITAN led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. ITAN is less concentrated, with 21.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.