LDEM vs SPY
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, LDEM or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. LDEM is less concentrated, with 30.1% 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 | LDEM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $34M | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.87% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 461 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +2.32% | +10.96%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.92% | +15.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.71% | +20.73%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +2.60% | +12.53%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.3% | 16.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.8% | -34.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,369 | $18,044Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 5, 2020 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 12, 2020 to Sep 16, 2026 (6.6 years).
LDEM 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 6.6 years both funds cover.
LDEM vs SPY Performance
iShares ESG MSCI EM Leaders ETF (LDEM) 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 LDEM returned +4.92% while SPY returned +15.52%. Year to date, LDEM is up 2.32% versus a gain of 10.96% for SPY.
Over three years, LDEM compounded at +14.71% per year against +20.73% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +2.60% and +12.53% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +14.25% annualized vs +4.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
LDEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.3% compared with 16.8% 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 -40.8% for LDEM 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LDEM charges 0.16% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $16 vs $9 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LDEM currently yields 2.87% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 417 holdings in LDEM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.2% and 99.9% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 417 positions we hold weights for in LDEM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 461 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 497 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for LDEM (99.3% of the fund), and 3 for LDEM that do not appear in SPY (1.3%).
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 LDEM 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, LDEM or SPY?
LDEM has an expense ratio of 0.16% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LDEM or SPY?
Over the past year LDEM returned +4.92% vs +15.52% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), LDEM annualized +4.58% vs +14.25% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LDEM or SPY?
LDEM has been the more volatile fund at 18.3% annualized versus 16.8% for SPY. Worst drawdown: LDEM -40.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both LDEM and SPY?
LDEM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, LDEM or SPY?
LDEM yields 2.87% while SPY yields 0.98%, so LDEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than LDEM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. LDEM is less concentrated, with 30.1% 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.