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IYY vs. SPY
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IYY vs. SPY

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

IYY (iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IYY is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Index, while SPY is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYY returned 15.08%/yr vs 15.53%/yr for SPY. With a 0.97 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. IYY charges 0.20%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SPY.

Performance

IYY vs. SPY - Performance Comparison

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

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with IYY having a 8.34% return and SPY slightly lower at 8.15%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IYY having a 15.08% annualized return and SPY not far ahead at 15.53%.

IYY

1D
-1.33%
1M
-1.01%
YTD
8.34%
6M
7.27%
1Y
23.31%
3Y*
20.53%
5Y*
12.11%
10Y*
15.08%

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

IYY vs. SPY - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
IYY
iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF		8.34%17.08%24.15%26.48%-19.57%26.38%20.10%30.78%-5.16%21.33%
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 IYY and SPY is 1.00 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.00

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

1.00

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

1.00

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.99

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 16, 2000

0.97

The correlation between IYY and SPY has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.

IYY vs. SPY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IYY
SPY

Technology

38.3%
39.0%

Financial Services

11.2%
11.1%

Communication Services

10.1%
10.6%

Consumer Cyclical

9.9%
9.9%

Industrials

8.5%
7.8%

Healthcare

8.4%
8.3%

Consumer Defensive

4.4%
4.5%

Energy

3.2%
3.1%

Utilities

2.1%
2.1%

Real Estate

2.0%
1.8%

Basic Materials

1.9%
1.7%

Technology

IYY
38.3%
SPY
39.0%

Financial Services

IYY
11.2%
SPY
11.1%

Communication Services

IYY
10.1%
SPY
10.6%

Consumer Cyclical

IYY
9.9%
SPY
9.9%

Industrials

IYY
8.5%
SPY
7.8%

Healthcare

IYY
8.4%
SPY
8.3%

Consumer Defensive

IYY
4.4%
SPY
4.5%

Energy

IYY
3.2%
SPY
3.1%

Utilities

IYY
2.1%
SPY
2.1%

Real Estate

IYY
2.0%
SPY
1.8%

Basic Materials

IYY
1.9%
SPY
1.7%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF

State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF

Often compared with IYY:
IYY vs. DIAIYY vs. VOOIYY vs. VTIIYY vs. IYMIYY vs. QQQIYY vs. CIND.LIYY vs. SCHB
Often compared with SPY:
SPY vs. QQQSPY vs. VOOSPY vs. BRK-BSPY vs. RSPSPY vs. VTISPY vs. SCHDSPY vs. GLD

Return for Risk

IYY vs. SPY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IYY
IYY Risk / Return Rank: 5858
Overall Rank
IYY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5757
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IYY Sortino Ratio Rank: 5555
Sortino Ratio Rank
IYY Omega Ratio Rank: 5656
Omega Ratio Rank
IYY Calmar Ratio Rank: 5555
Calmar Ratio Rank
IYY Martin Ratio Rank: 6666
Martin Ratio Rank
SPY
SPY Risk / Return Rank: 5959
Overall Rank
SPY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5858
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SPY Sortino Ratio Rank: 5656
Sortino Ratio Rank
SPY Omega Ratio Rank: 5757
Omega Ratio Rank
SPY Calmar Ratio Rank: 5656
Calmar Ratio Rank
SPY Martin Ratio Rank: 6767
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

IYY vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF (IYY) 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.

IYYSPYDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.85
1.90

-0.05

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.53
2.58

-0.05

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.33

1.34

-0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.62

2.67

-0.05

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

11.61

11.92

-0.31

IYY vs. SPY - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IYY Sharpe Ratio is 1.85, which is comparable to the SPY Sharpe Ratio of 1.90. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IYY 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.

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Drawdowns

IYY vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IYY drawdown since its inception was -55.17%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYY and SPY.

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Drawdown Indicators

IYYSPYDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-55.17%

-55.19%

+0.02%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.94%

-8.88%

-0.06%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.06%

-18.76%

-0.30%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.46%

-24.50%

-0.96%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-34.90%

-33.72%

-1.18%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-3.04%

-3.17%

+0.13%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-10.82%

-9.04%

-1.78%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.01%

1.98%

+0.03%

Volatility

IYY vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison

iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF (IYY) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have volatilities of 4.98% and 4.87%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IYYSPYDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

4.98%

4.87%

+0.11%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.01%

9.85%

+0.16%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.69%

12.50%

+0.19%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.23%

17.15%

+0.08%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.18%

17.95%

+0.23%

IYY vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison

IYY has a 0.20% 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

IYY vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison

IYY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.89%, less than SPY's 1.03% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
IYY
iShares Dow Jones U.S. ETF		0.89%0.95%1.05%1.29%1.48%1.04%1.31%1.80%1.97%1.62%1.81%1.97%
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF		1.03%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

With a correlation of 1.00, IYY 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.

IYY has higher volatility (4.98%) compared to SPY (4.87%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYY dropped -55.17% vs SPY's -55.19%.

On 10-year performance, SPY leads with 15.53% vs 15.08% for IYY. On fees, SPY is cheaper at 0.09% per year. On volatility, SPY has been the lower-risk option at 4.87%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, SPY has performed better with a 15.53% return vs 15.08%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SPY is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.20% for IYY.

SPY has the higher dividend yield at 1.03%, compared with 0.89% for IYY.

IYY is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while SPY is S&P 500. IYY tracks Dow Jones U.S. Index, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and State Street. Their fees differ too: 0.20% for IYY and 0.09% for SPY.

SPY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.90 vs 1.85), 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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