IYE vs SPY
iShares US Energy ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IYE or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYE led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.5%.
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 | IYE | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.98% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 44 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +43.19%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +48.77%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.22% | +21.18%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +24.57%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.8% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -78.1% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $29,996Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 70.5% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 12, 2000 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 16, 2000 to Sep 11, 2026 (26.2 years).
IYE 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.
IYE vs SPY Performance
iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) 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 IYE returned +48.77% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, IYE is up 43.19% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, IYE compounded at +15.22% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +24.57% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +6.80% annualized vs +6.07%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IYE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.8% 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 -78.1% for IYE 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYE 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, IYE currently yields 1.98% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
89.6% of IYE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's money is in holdings IYE also owns.
Most of IYE is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
22 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in IYE and 504 in SPY, against full books of 44 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 473 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IYE (96.3% of the fund), and 17 for IYE 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 IYE | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 22.02% | 0.96% | 21.06% |
| CVXChevron Corp. | 15.69% | 0.54% | 15.15% |
| COPConocophillips Co | 6.63% | 0.22% | 6.41% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 4.51% | 0.14% | 4.37% |
| VLOValero Energy Corp. | 4.36% | 0.14% | 4.22% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 4.06% | 0.12% | 3.94% |
| WMBWilliams Cos. Inc. | 3.75% | 0.13% | 3.62% |
| SLBSchlumberger Nv. | 3.69% | 0.11% | 3.58% |
| EOGEog Resources Inc | 3.18% | 0.11% | 3.07% |
| BKRBaker Hughes A Ge Co. Class A | 2.59% | 0.09% | 2.50% |
89.6% of IYE 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, IYE or SPY?
IYE 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, IYE or SPY?
Over the past year IYE returned +48.77% vs +17.51% for SPY, so IYE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYE annualized +6.07% vs +6.80% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYE or SPY?
IYE has been the more volatile fund at 24.8% annualized versus 15.1% for SPY. Worst drawdown: IYE -78.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IYE and SPY?
IYE and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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 IYE and SPY?
89.6% of IYE's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.2% of SPY's is in holdings IYE also owns. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in IYE and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYE or SPY?
IYE yields 1.98% while SPY yields 0.98%, so IYE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IYE?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYE led over 1Y and 5Y, SPY over 3Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 70.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.