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ETF Comparison

ITOT vs SPYM: Total US Market or the S&P 500?

A head-to-head of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF on index breadth and cost.

Updated October 9, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • ITOTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • SPYMInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

ITOT has lagged SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.46% total return against 17.00%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYM has compounded at 15.57% a year, against 14.92% for ITOT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Nov 2005Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT14.61%16.46%22.80%12.61%14.92%11.09%15.3%1.061.53-19.4%
SPYM14.90%17.00%23.24%13.78%15.57%11.32%14.8%1.111.61-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 9, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Nov 2005” measures every fund from November 15, 2005 — the start of shared available history — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricITOTSPYM
Full nameiShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETFState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF
IssueriSharesState Street
Underlying indexS&P Total Market IndexS&P 500 Index
Last Close$169.66 as of October 9, 2026$91.64 as of October 9, 2026
Distribution rate1.07%1.04%
Trailing 12-month yield0.99%0.99%
Distribution Safety Score™ 96100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.03%1.04%
Expense ratio0.03%0.02%
AUM$96.9B$177B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Tracks the S&P 500 Index, providing broad U.S. large-cap equity exposure at a low cost.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date01/20/200411/08/2005
Beta1.031.0
Last dividend$0.453$0.239
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/11/2026

Bottom lineChoose ITOT if you want broad equity exposure. Choose SPYM if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Total US market or the S&P 500

ITOT holds the S&P Total Market Index, so it adds the smaller companies the S&P 500 leaves out. SPYM holds the S&P 500 and is the SPLG fund under its new ticker. The index is the decision.

ITOTSPYM
IndexS&P Total Market IndexS&P 500
What it addsUS stocks beyond the S&P 500Large-cap S&P 500 only
Expense ratio0.03%0.02%
Distribution rate1.07%1.04%
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Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs467
Total AUM$4683B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ITOT.

See all iShares ETFs
State Street
ETFs179
Total AUM$2144B

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 SPYM.

See all State Street ETFs

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Quick verdict

ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

ITOT offers the higher yield at 1.07% vs 1.04% for SPYM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

SPYM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.02% compared to 0.03%.

They have different reference exposures: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index while SPYM is linked to S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

SPYM is the larger fund by assets ($177B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $26.75 cash per distribution, while SPYM would produce $26.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.07%
SPYM yield1.04%
Cash diff on $10K$0.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, ITOT would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $20 for SPYM (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

ITOT ER0.03%
SPYM ER0.02%

Strategy & risk

ITOT tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. Beta is 1.03 for ITOT and 1.0 for SPYM — effectively similar market sensitivity.

ITOT beta1.03
SPYM beta1.0

Fund details

ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $96.9B in assets. SPYM is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $177B in assets.

ITOT AUM$96.9B
SPYM AUM$177B
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Frequently asked questions

Is ITOT or SPYM better for dividend income?

ITOT holds the total US stock market (S&P Total Market Index). SPYM holds the S&P 500 and continues the SPLG fund. As of October 2026, ITOT distributes 1.07% at a 0.03% expense ratio and SPYM distributes 1.04% at 0.02%. Those payouts are close. The choice is how much of the US market you want, not which fund yields more.

Is SPLG the same as SPYM?

Yes — same fund, new ticker. State Street renamed the State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF from SPLG to SPYM; the strategy and holdings carried over unchanged, and existing shareholders kept their position under the new symbol. So results for "SPLG" are answered by SPYM's numbers: 1.04% distribution yield at a 0.02% expense ratio, with $177B in assets as of October 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for ITOT and SPYM?

ITOT currently distributes 1.07% and SPYM 1.04%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Can I hold both ITOT and SPYM?

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.

Is ITOT or SPYM safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — SPYM scores 100, ITOT scores 96, so SPYM's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, ITOT or SPYM?

ITOT has an expense ratio of 0.03% while SPYM charges 0.02%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in ITOT vs SPYM generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in ITOT would generate roughly $26.75 cash per distribution ($107.00 annually). The same in SPYM would produce about $26.00 cash per distribution ($104.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or SPYM?

ITOT has lagged SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.46% total return against 17.00%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYM has compounded at 15.57% a year, against 14.92% for ITOT. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

ITOT vs SPYM — at a glance

Generated October 10, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and SPYM are both large, low-cost core equity ETFs tracking U.S. stock indexes, but they differ in scope. ITOT holds the entire U.S. stock market via the S&P Total Market Index—encompassing large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks. SPYM tracks only the S&P 500, capturing the 500 largest U.S. companies. For most investors, this single difference drives the comparison: total market breadth versus large-cap concentration.

How they differ

The fundamental distinction is universe: ITOT includes mid and small caps alongside the S&P 500 names, while SPYM is S&P 500 only. This means SPYM's $177B in assets dwarfs ITOT's $96.9B, but ITOT's broader holdings expose you to smaller companies that can outperform (or underperform) in different market cycles. On cost, SPYM edges ahead with a 0.02% expense ratio versus ITOT's 0.03%, a difference of 0.01%. Yields are nearly identical—1.07% for ITOT, 1.04% for SPYM—reflecting the similar cash-return profile of both strategies. ITOT's beta of 1.03 slightly exceeds SPYM's 1.0, consistent with its exposure to smaller, more volatile names.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors seeking true market-cap-weighted exposure to the entire U.S. stock universe and willing to accept modest mid and small-cap volatility for the diversification breadth that total-market indexing offers.

SPYM: Designed for investors who view the S&P 500 as a sufficient equity anchor and prefer the simplicity, lower expense ratio, and larger asset base of a large-cap-only vehicle.

Key risks to know

  • Sector and size overlap. The S&P 500 represents roughly 85–90% of total U.S. market capitalization, so ITOT and SPYM holdings overlap substantially. Performance gaps between the funds reflect timing and cyclicality of mid and small-cap relative strength, not structural diversification between the two.
  • Mid and small-cap underperformance. ITOT's additional holdings in mid and small-cap stocks can drag returns during periods when large-cap mega-cap names dominate; the reverse holds when smaller stocks lead.
  • Market-cap weighting concentration. Both funds are market-cap weighted, meaning the largest companies carry the heaviest weight. During periods of mega-cap dominance (as in recent years), both funds' returns increasingly depend on a shrinking roster of the largest names.

Bottom line

If you want exposure to the entire U.S. stock market and accept modest mid and small-cap volatility, ITOT's breadth stands out; if you prefer simplicity and large-cap-only focus with a slightly lower fee, SPYM's S&P 500 design and larger asset base fit the profile. Both are low-cost, highly liquid core holdings. Past performance does not predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.