IWR vs SPY
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IWR or SPY?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWR led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWR is less concentrated, with 5.5% 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 | IWR | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $56.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.13% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 831 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +13.57%Best | +12.19% |
| 1Y Return | +15.82% | +18.53%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.61% | +20.88%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.69% | +12.69%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.7% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,484 | $18,173Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.5%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 20, 2001 to Sep 9, 2026 (25.1 years).
IWR 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 25.1 years both funds cover.
IWR vs SPY Performance
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR) 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 IWR returned +15.82% while SPY returned +18.53%. Year to date, IWR is up 13.57% versus a gain of 12.19% for SPY.
Over three years, IWR compounded at +16.61% per year against +20.88% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +7.69% and +12.69% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, IWR has the edge at +8.63% annualized vs +7.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.0% 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 -59.7% for IWR 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
IWR 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, IWR currently yields 1.13% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
60.4% of IWR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 13.1% of SPY's money is in holdings IWR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
296 positions in common, counted across the 798 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 504 in SPY, against full books of 831 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 203 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IWR (86.6% of the fund), and 472 for IWR that do not appear in SPY (34.9%).
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 IWR | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 0.65% | 0.11% | 0.54% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.60% | 0.14% | 0.46% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 0.57% | 0.14% | 0.43% |
| RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 0.52% | 0.12% | 0.40% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 0.52% | 0.11% | 0.41% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.51% | 0.12% | 0.39% |
| URIUnited Rentals Inc. | 0.49% | 0.11% | 0.38% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.46% | 0.10% | 0.36% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.45% | 0.10% | 0.35% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.45% | 0.10% | 0.35% |
60.4% of IWR 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, IWR or SPY?
IWR 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, IWR or SPY?
Over the past year IWR returned +15.82% vs +18.53% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWR annualized +8.63% vs +7.90% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWR or SPY?
IWR has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IWR -59.7% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IWR and SPY?
IWR 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 IWR and SPY?
60.4% of IWR's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 13.1% of SPY's is in holdings IWR also owns. They hold 296 positions in common, counted across the 798 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWR or SPY?
IWR yields 1.13% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IWR?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IWR led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWR is less concentrated, with 5.5% 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.