IVW vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

IVW (iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IVW is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the S&P 500 Growth Index, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IVW returned 18.07%/yr vs 15.49%/yr for SPY. Their correlation of 0.95 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IVW charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

IVW vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IVW achieves a 13.68% return, which is significantly higher than SPY's 10.91% return. Over the past 10 years, IVW has outperformed SPY with an annualized return of 18.07%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively lower 15.49% annualized return.

IVW

• 1D: -0.98%
• 1M: 7.39%
• YTD: 13.68%
• 6M: 13.49%
• 1Y: 33.77%
• 3Y*: 27.99%
• 5Y*: 15.93%
• 10Y*: 18.07%

SPY

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 5.05%
• YTD: 10.91%
• 6M: 10.91%
• 1Y: 27.98%
• 3Y*: 22.35%
• 5Y*: 13.83%
• 10Y*: 15.49%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IVW vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IVW iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF	13.68%	21.95%	35.82%	29.83%	-29.50%	31.80%	33.19%	30.77%	-0.21%	27.21%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	10.91%	17.72%	24.89%	26.18%	-18.18%	28.73%	18.33%	31.22%	-4.57%	21.71%

Correlation

The correlation between IVW and SPY is 0.94, 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	0.94
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	0.95
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 30, 2000	0.95

The correlation between IVW and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.

IVW vs. SPY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IVW	SPY
Technology	49.3%	35.9%
Communication Services	18.0%	11.3%
Consumer Cyclical	9.4%	10.3%
Financial Services	8.9%	11.8%
Industrials	6.2%	7.8%
Healthcare	5.8%	8.4%
Consumer Defensive	1.0%	4.8%
Real Estate	0.6%	1.9%
Utilities	0.4%	2.4%
Basic Materials	0.4%	1.8%
Energy	0.1%	3.6%

Return for Risk

IVW vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IVW

IVW Risk / Return Rank: 57
IVW Sharpe Ratio Rank: 62
IVW Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
IVW Omega Ratio Rank: 59
IVW Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
IVW Martin Ratio Rank: 57

SPY

SPY Risk / Return Rank: 70
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 71
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 70
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 75

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IVW vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW) 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.

	IVW	SPY	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.14	2.38	-0.24
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.88	3.24	-0.35
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.37	1.43	-0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.47	3.16	-0.70
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	10.19	14.72	-4.53
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IVW vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IVW Sharpe Ratio is 2.14, which is comparable to the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 2.38. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IVW and SPY, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	IVW	SPY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.14	2.38	-0.24
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.76	0.82	-0.06
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.88	0.87	+0.01
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.45	0.59	-0.13

Drawdowns

IVW vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IVW drawdown since its inception was -57.33%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IVW and SPY.

Drawdown Indicators

	IVW	SPY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-57.33%	-55.19%	-2.14%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.75%	-8.88%	-4.87%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-22.15%	-18.76%	-3.39%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.72%	-24.50%	-8.22%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-32.72%	-33.72%	+1.00%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.12%	-0.70%	-0.42%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-17.62%	-9.05%	-8.57%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.32%	1.91%	+1.41%

Volatility

IVW vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (IVW) has a higher volatility of 4.30% compared to State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) at 2.84%. This indicates that IVW'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.

Volatility by Period

	IVW	SPY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.30%	2.84%	+1.46%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.37%	8.90%	+3.47%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.87%	11.83%	+4.04%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.16%	17.05%	+4.11%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.62%	17.94%	+2.68%

IVW vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

IVW has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

IVW vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

IVW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.35%, less than SPY's 0.98% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
IVW iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF	0.35%	0.40%	0.43%	1.03%	0.92%	0.46%	0.82%	1.63%	1.28%	1.30%	1.51%	1.51%
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF	0.98%	1.07%	1.21%	1.40%	1.65%	1.20%	1.52%	1.75%	2.04%	1.80%	2.03%	2.06%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IVW and SPY in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.94, IVW 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.

Which is riskier, IVW or SPY?

IVW has higher volatility (4.30%) compared to SPY (2.84%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IVW dropped -57.33% vs SPY's -55.19%.

Which ETF is better, IVW or SPY?

On 10-year performance, IVW leads with 18.07% vs 15.49% for SPY. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SPY has been the lower-risk option at 2.84%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IVW or SPY?

Over the 10-year period, IVW has performed better with a 18.07% return vs 15.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IVW or SPY?

SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for IVW.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IVW or SPY?

SPY has the higher dividend yield at 0.98%, compared with 0.35% for IVW.

What is the main difference between IVW and SPY?

IVW is categorized as Large Cap Growth Equities, while SPY is S&P 500. IVW tracks S&P 500 Growth Index, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for IVW and 0.09% for SPY.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.38 vs 2.14), 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.