IXG vs SPY
iShares Global Financials ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IXG or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IXG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. IXG is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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 | IXG | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $693M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.11% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 247 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.98% | +11.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.55%Best | +15.87% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +25.36%Best | +20.93% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.12%Best | +12.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.9% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.0% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,356Best | $18,093 |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.2%Best | 37.8% |
| 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 15, 2026 (24.8 years).
IXG 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.
IXG vs SPY Performance
iShares Global Financials ETF (IXG) 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 IXG returned +16.55% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, IXG is up 10.98% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, IXG compounded at +25.36% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +14.12% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +8.23% annualized vs +4.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IXG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.9% 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 -80.0% for IXG 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXG charges 0.38% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $9 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IXG currently yields 2.11% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
50.2% of IXG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.2% of SPY's money is in holdings IXG also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
75 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in IXG and 504 in SPY, against full books of 247 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 423 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IXG (87.2% of the fund), and 6 for IXG that do not appear in SPY (1.4%).
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 IXG | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 5.92% | 1.45% | 4.47% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 5.74% | 1.40% | 4.34% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 3.91% | 0.94% | 2.97% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.95% | 0.71% | 2.24% |
| BACBank of America Corp.: Financials | 2.51% | 0.62% | 1.89% |
| GSGoldman Sachs Group Inc/The | 1.88% | 0.45% | 1.43% |
| WFCWells Fargo & Co. | 1.64% | 0.40% | 1.24% |
| MSMorgan Stanley | 1.59% | 0.38% | 1.21% |
| CCitigroup Inc. | 1.39% | 0.34% | 1.05% |
| SCHWSchwab Strategic T | 1.12% | 0.27% | 0.85% |
50.2% of IXG 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IXG or SPY?
IXG has an expense ratio of 0.38% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IXG or SPY?
Over the past year IXG returned +16.55% vs +15.87% for SPY, so IXG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IXG annualized +4.50% vs +8.23% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXG or SPY?
IXG has been the more volatile fund at 20.9% annualized versus 14.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IXG -80.0% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IXG and SPY?
IXG and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 IXG and SPY?
50.2% of IXG's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.2% of SPY's is in holdings IXG also owns. They hold 75 positions in common, counted across the 222 positions we hold weights for in IXG and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IXG or SPY?
IXG yields 2.11% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IXG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IXG?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IXG led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, SPY over the full window. IXG is less concentrated, with 30.2% 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.