IXC vs SPY
iShares Global Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IXC or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IXC led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.9%.
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 | IXC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.37% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.87% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 65 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +36.39%Best | +13.82% |
| 1Y Return | +44.35%Best | +16.96% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.29% | +22.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +23.31%Best | +13.73% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.8% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -76.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $28,510Best | $19,027 |
| Top 10 Weight | 57.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 12, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2001 to Sep 21, 2026 (24.8 years).
IXC 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 24.8 years both funds cover.
IXC vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Energy ETF (IXC) 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 IXC returned +44.35% while SPY returned +16.96%. Year to date, IXC is up 36.39% versus a gain of 13.82% for SPY.
Over three years, IXC compounded at +16.29% per year against +22.97% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +23.31% and +13.73% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.32% annualized vs +6.42%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IXC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.8% compared with 14.8% 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 -76.1% for IXC 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXC charges 0.37% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $37 vs $9 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IXC currently yields 2.87% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
60.7% of IXC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.6% of SPY's money is in holdings IXC also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
21 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in IXC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 65 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IXC (95.8% of the fund), and 5 for IXC that do not appear in SPY (8.5%).
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 IXC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 17.61% | 1.04% | 16.57% |
| CVXChevron Corp | 10.19% | 0.60% | 9.59% |
| COPConocophillips Common Stock USD 0.01 | 4.26% | 0.25% | 4.01% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 2.88% | 0.17% | 2.71% |
| VLOValero Energy | 2.81% | 0.16% | 2.65% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 2.61% | 0.15% | 2.46% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 2.42% | 0.14% | 2.28% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 2.37% | 0.13% | 2.24% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 2.04% | 0.12% | 1.92% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 1.67% | 0.10% | 1.57% |
60.7% of IXC 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, IXC or SPY?
IXC has an expense ratio of 0.37% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IXC or SPY?
Over the past year IXC returned +44.35% vs +16.96% for SPY, so IXC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IXC annualized +6.42% vs +8.32% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXC or SPY?
IXC has been the more volatile fund at 22.8% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IXC -76.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IXC and SPY?
IXC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IXC and SPY?
60.7% of IXC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.6% of SPY's is in holdings IXC also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in IXC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IXC or SPY?
IXC yields 2.87% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IXC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IXC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IXC led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 57.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.