ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on EWY.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on SPY.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
EWY has outpaced SPY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 128.59% total return against 22.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPY has compounded at 15.11% a year, ahead of EWY at 13.76%. SPY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.2% against 36.0% for EWY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2000” measures every fund from May 12, 2000 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) and SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
EWY offers the higher yield at 1.25% vs 1.01% for SPY. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
SPY is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.10% compared to 0.59%.
They track different benchmarks: EWY is linked to MSCI Korea 25/50 Index while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SPY is the larger fund by assets ($789B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, EWY would generate roughly $10.42/month, while SPY would produce $8.42/month, at current distribution rates.
EWY yield1.25%
SPY yield1.01%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, EWY would cost approximately $590 in fees vs $100 for SPY (simplified, not compounded). The $490.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
EWY ER0.59%
SPY ER0.10%
Strategy & risk
EWY tracks MSCI Korea 25/50 Index with an international approach, while SPY tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 2.4 for EWY and 1.0 for SPY, indicating SPY is less volatile relative to the market.
EWY beta2.4
SPY beta1.0
Fund details
EWY is managed by iShares (launched 05/09/2000) with $23.4B in assets. SPY is managed by State Street (launched 01/22/1993) with $789B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is EWY or SPY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. EWY currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between EWY and SPY?
EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) tracks MSCI Korea 25/50 Index with an international approach, while SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.
Can I hold both EWY and SPY?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, EWY or SPY?
EWY has an expense ratio of 0.59% while SPY charges 0.10%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in EWY vs SPY generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in EWY would generate roughly $10.42 per month ($125.00 annually). The same in SPY would produce about $8.42 per month ($101.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, EWY or SPY?
EWY has outpaced SPY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 128.59% total return against 22.00%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPY has compounded at 15.11% a year, ahead of EWY at 13.76%. SPY has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 15.2% against 36.0% for EWY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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