IYK vs SPY
iShares US Consumer Staples ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, IYK or SPY?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYK led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.0%.
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 | IYK | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.52% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 57 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +12.79% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.41% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.78% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.31% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0%Best | 15.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -44.1%Best | -56.5% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,579 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 66.0% | 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 4, 2026 (26.2 years).
IYK 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.
IYK vs SPY Performance
iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) 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 IYK returned +9.41% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, IYK is up 12.79% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, IYK compounded at +7.78% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +6.31% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IYK has the edge at +7.16% annualized vs +6.83%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 13.0% for IYK. 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 -44.1% for IYK 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IYK 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, IYK currently yields 2.52% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
94.1% of IYK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's money is in holdings IYK also owns.
Most of IYK is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
33 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in IYK and 504 in SPY, against full books of 57 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 463 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for IYK (95.9% of the fund), and 19 for IYK that do not appear in SPY (5.4%).
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 IYK | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 13.01% | 0.52% | 12.49% |
| KOCoca Cola Co. | 12.86% | 0.50% | 12.36% |
| PMPhilip Morris International Inc. | 11.27% | 0.44% | 10.83% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 7.35% | 0.29% | 7.06% |
| CVSCvs Health Corp. | 4.34% | 0.20% | 4.14% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 4.01% | 0.17% | 3.84% |
| MCKMckesson Corp. | 4.00% | 0.15% | 3.85% |
| MDLZMondelez International Inc Com A Npv | 3.22% | 0.12% | 3.10% |
| CLColgate-Palmolive Co | 3.07% | 0.11% | 2.96% |
| MNSTMonster Beverage Corp. | 2.87% | 0.10% | 2.77% |
94.1% of IYK 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, IYK or SPY?
IYK 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, IYK or SPY?
Over the past year IYK returned +9.41% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IYK annualized +7.16% vs +6.83% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IYK or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 13.0% for IYK. Worst drawdown: IYK -44.1% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both IYK and SPY?
IYK and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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 IYK and SPY?
94.1% of IYK's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 3.5% of SPY's is in holdings IYK also owns. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in IYK and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, IYK or SPY?
IYK yields 2.52% while SPY yields 1.01%, so IYK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than IYK?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. IYK led over the full window, SPY over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 66.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.