SOXX vs SPY
iShares Semiconductor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, SOXX or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SOXX 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 61.4%.
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 | SOXX | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.33% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $40.8B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.29% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 34 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +68.21%Best | +12.47% |
| 1Y Return | +107.50%Best | +17.51% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +48.86%Best | +21.18% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +28.36%Best | +12.88% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -70.2% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $34,846Best | $18,327 |
| Top 10 Weight | 61.4% | 38.0%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 10, 2001 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2001 to Sep 11, 2026 (25.2 years).
SOXX 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 25.2 years both funds cover.
SOXX vs SPY Performance
iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) 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 SOXX returned +107.50% while SPY returned +17.51%. Year to date, SOXX is up 68.21% versus a gain of 12.47% for SPY.
Over three years, SOXX compounded at +48.86% per year against +21.18% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +28.36% and +12.88% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, SOXX has the edge at +13.94% annualized vs +7.87%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SOXX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.4% compared with 15.0% 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 -70.2% for SOXX 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SOXX charges 0.33% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $33 vs $9 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SOXX currently yields 0.29% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
81.6% of SOXX's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.4% of SPY's money is in holdings SOXX also owns.
Most of SOXX is already inside SPY. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
18 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in SOXX and 504 in SPY, against full books of 34 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 476 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for SOXX (82.1% of the fund), and 7 for SOXX 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 SOXX | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 9.43% | 7.71% | 1.72% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 7.48% | 2.97% | 4.51% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 8.90% | 1.51% | 7.39% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc. | 8.22% | 1.27% | 6.95% |
| INTCIntel Corp. | 5.09% | 0.72% | 4.37% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 4.59% | 0.65% | 3.94% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd | 4.66% | 0.29% | 4.37% |
| LRCXLam Research Corp | 4.27% | 0.60% | 3.67% |
| KLACKla Corp. | 4.12% | 0.38% | 3.74% |
| TXNTexas Instruments, Inc | 3.85% | 0.39% | 3.46% |
81.6% of SOXX 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, SOXX or SPY?
SOXX has an expense ratio of 0.33% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SOXX or SPY?
Over the past year SOXX returned +107.50% vs +17.51% for SPY, so SOXX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), SOXX annualized +13.94% vs +7.87% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SOXX or SPY?
SOXX has been the more volatile fund at 30.4% annualized versus 15.0% for SPY. Worst drawdown: SOXX -70.2% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both SOXX and SPY?
SOXX and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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 SOXX and SPY?
81.6% of SOXX's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 17.4% of SPY's is in holdings SOXX also owns. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in SOXX and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, SOXX or SPY?
SOXX yields 0.29% while SPY yields 0.98%, so SPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than SOXX?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SOXX 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 61.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.