IYC vs SPY
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IYC or SPY?
Each has led over a different period.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYC led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.9%.
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 | IYC | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.51% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 162 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -5.09% | +11.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.71% | +15.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.27% | +20.93%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.81% | +12.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.0%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,648 | $18,093Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 50.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 28, 2000 to Sep 15, 2026 (26.2 years).
IYC 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 26.2 years both funds cover.
IYC vs SPY Performance
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (IYC) 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 IYC returned -7.71% while SPY returned +15.87%. Year to date, IYC is down 5.09% versus a gain of 11.45% for SPY.
Over three years, IYC compounded at +12.27% per year against +20.93% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.81% and +12.59% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IYC has the edge at +7.54% annualized vs +6.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYC 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 -54.0% for IYC 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYC 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, IYC currently yields 0.51% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
87.8% of IYC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.0% of SPY's money is in holdings IYC also owns.
Most of IYC is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
70 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in IYC and 504 in SPY, against full books of 162 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 427 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IYC (87.3% of the fund), and 82 for IYC that do not appear in SPY (11.4%).
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 IYC | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 15.43% | 3.79% | 11.64% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 7.75% | 1.52% | 6.23% |
| COSTCostco Wholesale Corp. | 4.16% | 0.63% | 3.53% |
| NFLXNetflix, Inc. | 4.20% | 0.52% | 3.68% |
| WMTWalmart, Inc. | 3.99% | 0.71% | 3.28% |
| HDHome Depot Inc/The | 4.00% | 0.48% | 3.52% |
| DISWalt Disney Co | 3.19% | 0.28% | 2.91% |
| MCDMcdonald'S Corp | 3.13% | 0.28% | 2.85% |
| BKNGBooking Holdings, Inc. | 2.57% | 0.23% | 2.34% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 2.48% | 0.23% | 2.25% |
87.8% of IYC 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, IYC or SPY?
IYC 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, IYC or SPY?
Over the past year IYC returned -7.71% vs +15.87% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYC annualized +7.54% vs +6.79% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYC or SPY?
IYC has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IYC -54.0% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IYC and SPY?
IYC and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 IYC and SPY?
87.8% of IYC's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 12.0% of SPY's is in holdings IYC also owns. They hold 70 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in IYC and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYC or SPY?
IYC yields 0.51% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IYC?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYC led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. SPY is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 50.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.