ITDG vs SPY
iShares LifePath Target Date 2055 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ITDG or SPY?
Target Date against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ITDG led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | ITDG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $62M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 8 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +11.81%Best | +11.45% |
| 1Y Return | +16.78%Best | +15.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.47%Best | +20.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6%Best | 12.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.6%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 2.9 years | $18,001 | $18,344Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Target Date | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 17, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 19, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (2.9 years).
ITDG 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 2.9 years both funds cover.
ITDG vs SPY Performance
iShares LifePath Target Date 2055 ETF (ITDG) 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 ITDG returned +16.78% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, ITDG is up 11.81% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, ITDG compounded at +22.47% per year against +20.93% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.5% compared with 11.6% for ITDG. 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 -16.6% for ITDG 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITDG charges 0.12% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $9 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITDG currently yields 1.40% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 7 holdings in ITDG and 504 in SPY, totalling 100.0% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 7 positions we hold weights for in ITDG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 8 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ITDG (99.3% of the fund), and 7 for ITDG that do not appear in SPY (100.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ITDG 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, ITDG or SPY?
ITDG has an expense ratio of 0.12% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITDG or SPY?
Over the past year ITDG returned +16.78% vs +15.87% for SPY, so ITDG leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITDG or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 12.5% annualized versus 11.6% for ITDG. Worst drawdown: ITDG -16.6% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both ITDG and SPY?
ITDG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITDG or SPY?
ITDG yields 1.40% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ITDG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ITDG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. ITDG led over 1Y and 3Y, SPY over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.