IWD vs SPY
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IWD or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWD is less concentrated, with 28.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | IWD | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $83.6B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.36% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 874 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +21.28%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +27.42%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.58% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.81% | +12.88%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Tie | 15.1%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -61.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,474 | $18,327Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.8%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2000 to Sep 11, 2026 (26.3 years).
IWD 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.
IWD vs SPY Performance
iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF (IWD) 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 IWD returned +27.42% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, IWD is up 21.28% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, IWD compounded at +19.58% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.81% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +7.03% annualized vs +6.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWD and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -61.9% for IWD 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWD charges 0.18% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $9 annually, a gap of $9 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWD currently yields 1.36% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.7% of IWD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 63.6% of SPY's money is in holdings IWD also owns.
Most of IWD is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
420 positions in common, counted across the 868 positions we hold weights for in IWD and 504 in SPY, against full books of 874 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 81 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IWD (36.2% of the fund), and 382 for IWD that do not appear in SPY (9.2%).
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 IWD | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.47% | 6.83% | 1.36% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 6.44% | 4.08% | 2.36% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.81% | 5.50% | 0.69% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 2.55% | 1.44% | 1.11% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway B | 2.57% | 1.42% | 1.15% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 1.68% | 0.96% | 0.72% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.65% | 0.92% | 0.73% |
| METAMeta Platforms, Inc. | 0.62% | 1.94% | 1.32% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.27% | 0.72% | 0.55% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 1.20% | 0.73% | 0.47% |
89.7% of IWD 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, IWD or SPY?
IWD has an expense ratio of 0.18% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $9 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWD or SPY?
Over the past year IWD returned +27.42% vs +17.51% for SPY, so IWD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IWD annualized +6.40% vs +7.03% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWD or SPY?
IWD and SPY have been equally volatile, both at 15.1% annualized. Worst drawdown: IWD -61.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IWD and SPY?
IWD and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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 IWD and SPY?
89.7% of IWD's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 63.6% of SPY's is in holdings IWD also owns. They hold 420 positions in common, counted across the 868 positions we hold weights for in IWD and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWD or SPY?
IWD yields 1.36% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IWD currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IWD?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWD led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWD is less concentrated, with 28.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.