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ETF Comparison

ITOT vs SPYM: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 21, 2026

Best for

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

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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.

ITOT has lagged SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.87% total return against 17.32%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYM has compounded at 15.63% a year, against 15.01% 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Nov 2005Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
ITOT14.03%16.87%22.65%12.68%15.01%11.09%15.3%1.051.51-19.4%
SPYM14.14%17.32%23.04%13.83%15.63%11.31%14.9%1.101.59-18.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “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$168.81 as of September 21, 2026$91.03 as of September 21, 2026
Distribution rate1.07%1.05%
Distribution Safety Score™ 96100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.03%1.05%
Expense ratio0.03%0.02%
AUM$96.1B$157B
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.

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4608B

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.

See all iShares ETFs
State Street
ETFs179
Total AUM$2096B

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 1.05% 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 ($157B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, ITOT would generate roughly $8.92/month, while SPYM would produce $8.75/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

ITOT yield1.07%
SPYM yield1.05%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.17

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 $96.1B in assets. SPYM is managed by State Street (launched 11/08/2005) with $157B in assets.

ITOT AUM$96.1B
SPYM AUM$157B
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Frequently asked questions

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: 1.05% distribution yield at a 0.02% expense ratio, with $157B in assets as of September 2026.

What is the current distribution rate for ITOT and SPYM?

ITOT currently distributes 1.07% and SPYM 1.05%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate 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. ITOT 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.

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 $8.92 per month ($107.00 annually). The same in SPYM would produce about $8.75 per month ($105.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, ITOT or SPYM?

ITOT has lagged SPYM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.87% total return against 17.32%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: SPYM has compounded at 15.63% a year, against 15.01% 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 September 19, 2026.

Overview

ITOT and SPYM are both broad-market index ETFs tracking U.S. equities at rock-bottom costs, but they capture different slices of the market. The choice between them hinges on whether you want total-market breadth or large-cap focus.

How they differ

The most fundamental difference is scope: ITOT includes mid-cap and small-cap stocks alongside large caps, whereas SPYM's universe stops at the 500 largest. This means ITOT carries meaningfully more small- and mid-cap risk, though both track highly correlated indexes. On yield, they're nearly identical—ITOT at 1.05% and SPYM at 1.05%—and both distribute quarterly. SPYM edges out ITOT on cost: 0.02% versus 0.03%, a hair-thin margin.

Who each is best for

ITOT: Fits investors seeking exposure to the full U.S. equity market—including mid and small caps—and comfortable with the modest added volatility that broader diversification can bring. Appeals to buy-and-hold allocators who want to own the entire market in one holding.

SPYM: Designed for investors who prefer to concentrate on large-cap stocks, either as a core holding or as part of a multi-fund allocation that separately tilts toward mid and small caps. Suits those prioritizing maximum liquidity and lowest possible costs.

Key risks to know

  • Market concentration in large caps within SPYM: The S&P 500 is increasingly concentrated among the largest tech and financial names. An investor using SPYM alone misses the diversification that mid and small caps provide, leaving portfolio risk more dependent on mega-cap performance.
  • Small- and mid-cap volatility in ITOT: While ITOT's broader mandate reduces single-company risk, small- and mid-cap stocks typically exhibit higher price swings than the 500 largest firms. This can amplify drawdowns during risk-off periods compared to SPYM.
  • Tracking error during market dislocations: Both funds aim to minimize deviation from their underlying indexes, but during sharp market moves, bid-ask spreads and rebalancing costs can briefly widen. ITOT's broader underlying may experience larger intraday spread swings.
  • Overlap risk in multi-fund strategies: If held alongside sector-specific or mid-cap ETFs, investors may inadvertently concentrate in large-cap exposure since both ITOT and SPYM are heavily weighted to the 500 largest companies by market cap.

Bottom line

If you want to own the broadest possible U.S. equity market with minimal cost, ITOT's total-market approach offers that breadth; if you're comfortable with large-cap-only exposure and prize absolute lowest fees, SPYM's slight cost edge and larger AUM may appeal. Both charge under 0.03%, so the decision rests primarily on whether you want the full market or just the biggest 500 stocks. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

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