ITOT vs SPY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared
As of Nov 5, 2026, ITOT yields more: 1.04% (dividend yield) against 1.02% for SPY. ITOT is cheaper to own at 0.03% a year vs 0.09%. Over the same 18 years (Dec 2007 to Oct 2026), SPY returned 11.1% a year with distributions reinvested, and ITOT 10.9%.
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust1.02%dividend yield| Compared | ITOT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| YieldDividend yield | 1.04% | 1.02% |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.09% |
| Total return, 1 yr | +11.9% | +12.0% |
| Total return, 3 yr (a year) | +23.1% | +23.3% |
| Total return, 5 yr (a year) | +11.0% | +12.0% |
| Total return, 10 yr (a year) | +14.8% | +15.3% |
| Worst drop since Dec 2007 | -48.1% | -48.2% |
| Share price since Dec 2007 | +407% | +417% |
| Pays | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street Investment Management |
| Assets | $95.5B | $796.9B |
| Started | 2004 | 1993 |
| Type | Large Blend | Large Blend |
Higher yield
ITOT
1.04%
Lower cost
ITOT
0.03%
Better total return
SPY
11.1%/yr
Smaller worst drop
ITOT
-48.1%
Key facts: ITOT vs SPY
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Nov 5, 2026, ITOT yields 1.04% (dividend yield) and SPY yields 1.02% (dividend yield).
- ITOT's expense ratio is 0.03% and SPY's is 0.09%: $3 vs $9 a year on $10,000.
- From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, $10,000 in ITOT grew to $70,543 (10.9% a year) and $10,000 in SPY to $72,756 (11.1% a year), distributions reinvested.
- Their worst month-end drops over that time: -48.1% for ITOT and -48.2% for SPY.
- 10 of ITOT's top ten holdings are also in SPY's top ten, an overlap of at least 33% of the fund.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "ITOT vs SPY: Yield, Cost and Returns Compared," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/compare/itot-vs-spy
$10,000 in each, Dec 2007 to Oct 2026
Distributions reinvested, month-end values, with the S&P 500 for reference.
ITOT became
$70,543
10.9% a year
SPY became
$72,756
11.1% a year
Year by year
| Year | ITOT | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +17.0% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +23.8% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +26.1% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −19.5% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +25.7% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +20.7% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +30.7% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −5.3% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +21.4% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +12.6% | +12.0% |
| 2015 | +0.4% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | +13.5% | +13.5% |
| 2013 | +33.3% | +32.3% |
| 2012 | +15.8% | +16.0% |
| 2011 | +1.7% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | +16.3% | +15.1% |
| 2009 | +26.6% | +26.4% |
| 2008 | −36.4% | −36.8% |
Total return each calendar year, distributions reinvested.
Top holdings
10 of the top ten overlap, at least 33% of each fund.
ITOT
- AAPL Apple Inc6.9%
- NVDA NVIDIA Corp6.7%
- MSFT Microsoft Corp5.3%
- AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.2%
- GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.2%
- AVGO Broadcom Inc2.1%
- META Meta Platforms Inc Class A1.8%
- GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C1.8%
- LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.5%
- TSLA Tesla Inc1.5%
SPY
- AAPL Apple Inc7.7%
- NVDA NVIDIA Corp7.6%
- MSFT Microsoft Corp5.9%
- AMZN Amazon.com Inc3.6%
- GOOGL Alphabet Inc Class A2.5%
- AVGO Broadcom Inc2.4%
- META Meta Platforms Inc Class A2.1%
- GOOG Alphabet Inc Class C2.0%
- LLY Eli Lilly and Co1.7%
- TSLA Tesla Inc1.7%
ITOT vs SPY: questions
Is ITOT or SPY better?
It depends on the job. ITOT pays more today (1.04% vs 1.02%), ITOT costs less, and SPY has the better total return over Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, with ITOT holding up better in its worst stretch. For income, look at yield and whether the payouts hold up; for growth, total return and drawdowns.
Which pays a higher dividend, ITOT or SPY?
ITOT, at 1.04% against 1.02% for SPY as of Nov 5, 2026. On $10,000 that's about $104 vs $102 a year at today's rates.
Which has the better total return?
SPY. From Dec 2007 to Oct 2026, it returned 11.1% a year with distributions reinvested, against 10.9% for ITOT. $10,000 became $72,756 vs $70,543.
Which is cheaper, ITOT or SPY?
ITOT, with a 0.03% expense ratio against 0.09%.
Do ITOT and SPY hold the same things?
Partly. 10 of their top ten holdings match (AAPL, NVDA, MSFT, AMZN), at least 33% of each fund. Owning both doubles up on those.
Related comparisons
Yields, costs and holdings as each fund reports them (via Yahoo Finance), updated daily; returns from month-end prices with distributions reinvested. SPY leads on 5 of 8 measures above. For information only, not investment advice. Last fund data: Nov 5, 2026.