IXUS vs SPY
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IXUS or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
IXUS has a lower expense ratio. IXUS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IXUS is less concentrated, with 13.6% 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 | IXUS | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07%Best | 0.09% |
| AUM | $60.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 4,623 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.46%Best | +10.96% |
| 1Y Return | +19.24%Best | +15.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.20% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.55% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,071 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.6%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 16, 2026 (13.9 years).
IXUS 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 13.9 years both funds cover.
IXUS vs SPY Performance
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) 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 IXUS returned +19.24% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, IXUS is up 12.46% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, IXUS compounded at +19.20% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +8.55% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.29% annualized vs +6.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 14.2% 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 -39.9% for IXUS and -34.1% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXUS charges 0.07% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $9 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IXUS currently yields 2.88% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of IXUS's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.8% of SPY's money is in holdings IXUS also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
5 positions in common, counted across the 4,437 positions we hold weights for in IXUS and 504 in SPY, against full books of 4,623 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IXUS (98.6% of the fund), and 36 for IXUS that do not appear in SPY (1.7%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IXUS and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IXUS or SPY?
IXUS has an expense ratio of 0.07% while SPY charges 0.09%. IXUS is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IXUS or SPY?
Over the past year IXUS returned +19.24% vs +15.52% for SPY, so IXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), IXUS annualized +6.14% vs +13.29% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXUS or SPY?
IXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 14.2% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IXUS -39.9% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both IXUS and SPY?
IXUS and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IXUS or SPY?
IXUS yields 2.88% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IXUS?
IXUS has a lower expense ratio. IXUS led over 1Y, SPY over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IXUS is less concentrated, with 13.6% 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.