A head-to-head comparison of iShares U.S. Financials ETF and State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
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.
IYF has lagged XLF over the trailing twelve months, posting a 8.41% total return against 8.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XLF has compounded at 13.13% a year, against 13.04% for IYF. 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.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 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 May 2000” measures every fund from May 31, 2000 — 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.
Bottom lineIYF and XLF are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: XLF charges 0.08% against 0.37% for IYF, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.
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 IYF.
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 XLF.
IYF (iShares U.S. Financials ETF) and XLF (State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
XLF offers the higher yield at 1.50% vs 1.30% for IYF. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
XLF is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.08% compared to 0.37%.
They have different reference exposures: IYF is linked to Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index while XLF is linked to Financial Select Sector Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
XLF is the larger fund by assets ($52.2B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
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On a $10,000 investment, IYF would generate roughly $32.50 cash per distribution, while XLF would produce $37.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
IYF yield1.30%
XLF yield1.50%
Cash diff on $10K$5.00
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IYF would cost approximately $370 in fees vs $80 for XLF (simplified, not compounded). The $290.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IYF ER0.37%
XLF ER0.08%
Strategy & risk
IYF tracks Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index, while XLF tracks Financial Select Sector Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.83 for IYF and 0.75 for XLF, making XLF the less volatile of the two by this measure.
IYF beta0.83
XLF beta0.75
Fund details
IYF is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $3.75B in assets. XLF is managed by State Street (launched 12/16/1998) with $52.2B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for IYF and XLF?
IYF currently distributes 1.30% and XLF 1.50%, 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.
Is IYF or XLF better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. XLF 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 IYF and XLF?
IYF (iShares U.S. Financials ETF) tracks Dow Jones U.S. Financials Index, while XLF (State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF) tracks Financial Select Sector Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.
Can I hold both IYF and XLF?
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 IYF or XLF safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IYF scores 97, XLF scores 93, so IYF'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, IYF or XLF?
IYF has an expense ratio of 0.37% while XLF charges 0.08%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in IYF vs XLF generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in IYF would generate roughly $32.50 cash per distribution ($130.00 annually). The same in XLF would produce about $37.50 cash per distribution ($150.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IYF or XLF?
IYF has lagged XLF over the trailing twelve months, posting a 8.41% total return against 8.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: XLF has compounded at 13.13% a year, against 13.04% for IYF. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
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