^IXIC vs. SPY
^IXIC (NASDAQ Composite) is an index, while SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, ^IXIC returned 18.45%/yr vs 15.53%/yr for SPY. Their correlation of 0.87 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
^IXIC vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^IXIC achieves a 10.09% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's 8.15% return. Over the past 10 years, ^IXIC has outperformed SPY with an annualized return of 18.45%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively lower 15.53% annualized return.
^IXIC
- 1D
- -2.21%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- 10.09%
- 6M
- 8.60%
- 1Y
- 30.34%
- 3Y*
- 23.78%
- 5Y*
- 12.23%
- 10Y*
- 18.45%
SPY
- 1D
- -1.45%
- 1M
- -1.36%
- YTD
- 8.15%
- 6M
- 7.20%
- 1Y
- 23.59%
- 3Y*
- 20.68%
- 5Y*
- 13.05%
- 10Y*
- 15.53%
^IXIC vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^IXIC NASDAQ Composite | 10.09% | 20.36% | 28.64% | 43.42% | -33.10% | 21.39% | 43.64% | 35.23% | -3.88% | 28.24% |
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 8.15% | 17.72% | 24.89% | 26.18% | -18.18% | 28.73% | 18.33% | 31.22% | -4.57% | 21.71% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^IXIC and SPY is 0.95, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 29, 1993 | 0.87 |
The correlation between ^IXIC and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.87 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
^IXIC vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank
^IXIC
SPY
^IXIC vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^IXIC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.17 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.26 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.34 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | 2.67 | -0.36 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.65 | 11.92 | -3.27 |
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Drawdowns
^IXIC vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^IXIC drawdown since its inception was -77.93%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^IXIC and SPY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^IXIC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -77.93% | -55.19% | -22.74% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.21% | -8.88% | -4.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -24.32% | -18.76% | -5.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.40% | -24.50% | -11.90% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.40% | -33.72% | -2.68% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.56% | -3.17% | -2.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -21.38% | -9.04% | -12.34% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.51% | 1.98% | +1.53% |
Volatility
^IXIC vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
NASDAQ Composite (^IXIC) has a higher volatility of 7.66% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 4.87%. This indicates that ^IXIC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^IXIC | SPY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.66% | 4.87% | +2.79% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.86% | 9.85% | +4.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.59% | 12.50% | +5.09% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.65% | 17.15% | +5.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.08% | 17.95% | +4.13% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.95, ^IXIC and SPY move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
^IXIC has higher volatility (7.66%) compared to SPY (4.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^IXIC dropped -77.93% vs SPY's -55.19%.
SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 1.73), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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