REM vs SPY
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, REM or SPY?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 77.8%.
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 | REM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.48% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $541M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.92% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 37 | 505 |
| YTD Return | -2.70% | +13.34%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.50% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.15% | +21.20%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.10% | +12.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.5% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -92.9% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,993 | $18,270Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 77.8% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 4, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.3 years).
REM 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 19.3 years both funds cover.
REM vs SPY Performance
iShares Mortgage Real Estate ETF (REM) 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 REM returned -0.50% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, REM is down 2.70% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, REM compounded at +5.15% per year against +21.20% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are -2.10% and +12.81% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.21% annualized vs -8.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
REM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.5% compared with 15.5% 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 -92.9% for REM 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
REM charges 0.48% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $48 vs $9 annually, a gap of $39 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, REM currently yields 8.92% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 30 holdings in REM and 504 in SPY, totalling 99.6% and 100.0% 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 30 positions we hold weights for in REM and 504 in SPY, against full books of 37 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for REM (99.5% of the fund), and 30 for REM that do not appear in SPY (99.6%).
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 REM 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, REM or SPY?
REM has an expense ratio of 0.48% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $39 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, REM or SPY?
Over the past year REM returned -0.50% vs +19.97% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), REM annualized -8.77% vs +9.21% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, REM or SPY?
REM has been the more volatile fund at 24.5% annualized versus 15.5% for SPY. Worst drawdown: REM -92.9% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both REM and SPY?
REM and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, REM or SPY?
REM yields 8.92% while SPY yields 1.01%, so REM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than REM?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPY is less concentrated, with 38.0% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 77.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.