ITB vs SPY
iShares US Home Construction ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ITB or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.8%.
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 | ITB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.67% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 47 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -3.49% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | -17.35% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.04% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.34% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -87.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,598 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 67.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2006 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 5, 2006 to Sep 4, 2026 (20.3 years).
ITB 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 20.3 years both funds cover.
ITB vs SPY Performance
iShares US Home Construction ETF (ITB) 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 ITB returned -17.35% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, ITB is down 3.49% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, ITB compounded at +5.04% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.34% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.44% annualized vs +3.37%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ITB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.0% 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 -87.1% for ITB 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITB charges 0.37% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $9 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITB currently yields 0.67% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
64.2% of ITB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's money is in holdings ITB also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
10 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in ITB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 47 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 44 and 504 positions we hold weights for.
SPY holds 486 positions ITB does not, 98.4% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 7.71%, AAPL 6.83%, MSFT 5.50%, AMZN 4.08%, GOOGL 3.33%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ITB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHIDr Horton Inc. | 16.40% | 0.06% | 16.34% |
| PHMPultegroup Inc. | 10.37% | 0.04% | 10.33% |
| LENLennar Corp. Class A | 7.74% | 0.03% | 7.71% |
| NVRNvr Inc. | 6.99% | 0.03% | 6.96% |
| SHWSherwin Williams Co/the | 5.38% | 0.12% | 5.26% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 4.94% | 0.52% | 4.42% |
| LOWLowes Cos., Inc. | 4.56% | 0.18% | 4.38% |
| MASMasco Corp. | 3.23% | 0.02% | 3.21% |
| LIILennox International Inc | 2.94% | 0.02% | 2.92% |
| BLDRBuilders Firstsource Inc | 1.69% | 0.01% | 1.68% |
64.2% of ITB 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, ITB or SPY?
ITB has an expense ratio of 0.37% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITB or SPY?
Over the past year ITB returned -17.35% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), ITB annualized +3.37% vs +9.44% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITB or SPY?
ITB has been the more volatile fund at 31.0% annualized versus 15.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: ITB -87.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both ITB and SPY?
ITB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 ITB and SPY?
64.2% of ITB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 1.0% of SPY's is in holdings ITB also owns. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in ITB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITB or SPY?
ITB yields 0.67% while SPY yields 1.01%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ITB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 67.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.