IWB vs SPY
iShares Russell 1000 ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IWB or SPY?
Nearly the same fund. SPY costs less.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWB led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. IWB is less concentrated, with 34.8% 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 | IWB | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $48.5B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.93% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 1,029 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.66% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.81% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.42% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.76% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.4%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,435 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 34.8%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 16, 2026 (26.3 years).
IWB 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 26.3 years both funds cover.
IWB vs SPY Performance
iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) 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 IWB returned +14.81% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, IWB is up 10.66% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, IWB compounded at +20.42% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.76% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IWB has the edge at +7.00% annualized vs +6.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.1% 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 -56.4% for IWB 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 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWB charges 0.15% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $9 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWB currently yields 0.93% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
91.2% of IWB's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 98.2% of SPY's money is in holdings IWB also owns.
Most of SPY is already inside IWB. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
471 positions in common, counted across the 853 positions we hold weights for in IWB and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,029 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 31 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IWB (1.3% of the fund), and 312 for IWB that do not appear in SPY (6.2%).
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 IWB | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.26% | 8.01% | 0.75% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.45% | 7.26% | 0.81% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.31% | 5.66% | 0.35% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.55% | 3.79% | 0.24% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.79% | 2.99% | 0.20% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.43% | 2.66% | 0.23% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.25% | 2.39% | 0.14% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.77% | 1.93% | 0.16% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.52% | 1.60% | 0.08% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 1.51% | 1.52% | 0.01% |
98.2% of SPY is already inside IWB.
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, IWB or SPY?
IWB has an expense ratio of 0.15% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWB or SPY?
Over the past year IWB returned +14.81% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IWB annualized +7.00% vs +6.87% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWB or SPY?
IWB has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IWB -56.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IWB and SPY?
IWB and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, 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 IWB and SPY?
98.2% of SPY's money is in holdings IWB also owns. 98.2% of SPY's is in holdings IWB also owns. They hold 471 positions in common, counted across the 853 positions we hold weights for in IWB and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWB or SPY?
IWB yields 0.93% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IWB?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWB led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. IWB is less concentrated, with 34.8% 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.