A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
Data updated August 7, 2026
Best for
ITOTInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
SPYMInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.
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 ITOT.
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.
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
ITOT has outpaced SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.91% total return against 23.82%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPYM has compounded at 15.37% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.77%. 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 August 6, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Nov 2005” measures every fund from November 15, 2005 — 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
ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) and SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
SPYM offers the higher yield at 1.06% vs 1.00% for ITOT. 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 track different benchmarks: ITOT is linked to S&P Total Market Index while SPYM tracks S&P 500 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
SPYM is the larger fund by assets ($157B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.33/month, while SPYM would produce $8.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
ITOT yield1.00%
SPYM yield1.06%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.50
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, indicating SPYM is less volatile relative to the market.
ITOT beta1.03
SPYM beta1.0
Fund details
ITOT is managed by iShares (launched 01/20/2004) with $97.6B in assets. SPYM is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $157B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution yield for ITOT and SPYM?
ITOT currently distributes 1.00% and SPYM 1.06%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is ITOT or SPYM better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. SPYM 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 ITOT and SPYM?
ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) tracks S&P Total Market Index with an index approach, while SPYM (SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) tracks S&P 500 Index with a large cap approach. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.
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.
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 $8.33 per month ($100.00 annually). The same in SPYM would produce about $8.83 per month ($106.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ITOT or SPYM?
ITOT has outpaced SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 23.91% total return against 23.82%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — SPYM has compounded at 15.37% a year, ahead of ITOT at 14.77%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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