SCZ vs SPY
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SCZ or SPY?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCZ is less concentrated, with 2.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | SCZ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $13.1B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.07% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 2,080 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +10.65% | +11.52%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.64% | +17.48%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.10% | +20.62%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.85% | +12.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.9% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.6% | -54.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,672 | $18,205Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 2.8%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.7 years).
SCZ 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 18.7 years both funds cover.
SCZ vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) 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 SCZ returned +15.64% while SPY returned +17.48%. Year to date, SCZ is up 10.65% versus a gain of 11.52% for SPY.
Over three years, SCZ compounded at +17.10% per year against +20.62% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +4.85% and +12.73% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.48% annualized vs +3.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.9% compared with 15.7% 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 -62.6% for SCZ and -54.5% 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCZ charges 0.40% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $9 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCZ currently yields 3.07% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of SCZ's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings SCZ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 2,032 positions we hold weights for in SCZ and 504 in SPY, against full books of 2,080 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 492 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SCZ (99.5% of the fund), and 19 for SCZ that do not appear in SPY (0.7%).
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 SCZ 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, SCZ or SPY?
SCZ has an expense ratio of 0.40% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCZ or SPY?
Over the past year SCZ returned +15.64% vs +17.48% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SCZ annualized +3.65% vs +9.48% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCZ or SPY?
SCZ has been the more volatile fund at 18.9% annualized versus 15.7% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SCZ -62.6% vs SPY -54.5%.
Should I hold both SCZ and SPY?
SCZ and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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, SCZ or SPY?
SCZ yields 3.07% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SCZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SCZ?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SCZ is less concentrated, with 2.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.