IWF vs SPY
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IWF or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWF led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%.
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 | IWF | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $123.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.35% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 372 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.48% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.44% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.00%Best | +20.73% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.41% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.8% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,164 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 56.8% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | 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 16, 2026 (26.3 years).
IWF 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.
IWF vs SPY Performance
iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) 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 IWF returned +4.44% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, IWF is up 2.48% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, IWF compounded at +21.00% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +11.41% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IWF has the edge at +7.30% annualized vs +6.97%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% 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 -66.8% for IWF 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWF 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, IWF currently yields 0.35% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
93.8% of IWF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 66.4% of SPY's money is in holdings IWF also owns.
Most of IWF is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
178 positions in common, counted across the 367 positions we hold weights for in IWF and 504 in SPY, against full books of 372 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 319 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IWF (32.9% of the fund), and 133 for IWF that do not appear in SPY (5.6%).
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 IWF | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 15.45% | 8.01% | 7.44% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 7.45% | 7.26% | 0.19% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.65% | 5.66% | 0.01% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 5.93% | 2.99% | 2.94% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 5.17% | 2.66% | 2.51% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 4.78% | 2.39% | 2.39% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 3.09% | 1.93% | 1.16% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.24% | 1.60% | 1.64% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 3.22% | 1.52% | 1.70% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 0.63% | 3.79% | 3.16% |
93.8% of IWF 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, IWF or SPY?
IWF 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, IWF or SPY?
Over the past year IWF returned +4.44% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IWF annualized +7.30% vs +6.97% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWF or SPY?
IWF has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IWF -66.8% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IWF and SPY?
IWF 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.
What is the holdings overlap between IWF and SPY?
93.8% of IWF's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 66.4% of SPY's is in holdings IWF also owns. They hold 178 positions in common, counted across the 367 positions we hold weights for in IWF and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWF or SPY?
IWF yields 0.35% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IWF?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWF led over 3Y and the full window, SPY over 1Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 56.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.