Workflow
Options - based income strategy
icon
Search documents
The Only S&P 500 ETF You Need in 2026 and It's Not the One You Think
247Wallst· 2026-03-20 15:42
Core Insights - The article emphasizes the advantages of the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) over the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) due to its lower expense ratio, which is 3 basis points compared to SPY's 9.45 basis points, leading to better long-term returns for buy-and-hold investors [1][7][8] - It also highlights the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Income Advantage ETF (RSPA) as an alternative that offers an 8.86% yield and reduces concentration in mega-cap tech stocks, making it appealing for investors concerned about market rebalancing [1][10][11] Cost Structure - IVV charges 3 basis points annually, significantly lower than SPY's 9.45 basis points, which compounds over time, resulting in higher net returns for investors [1][7][8] - RSPA has a higher expense ratio of 0.29% but provides an income generation strategy that justifies the cost for income-focused investors [11][15] Performance Comparison - Over the past year, IVV has outperformed SPY, returning 20% compared to SPY's lower returns, primarily due to the cost advantage of IVV [8][13] - RSPA returned approximately 13% over the same period, lagging behind IVV due to its equal-weight strategy, which underweights mega-cap tech stocks that have driven recent market gains [13][14] Investment Strategy - IVV offers a traditional cap-weighted exposure to the S&P 500, while RSPA's equal-weight approach reduces concentration risk and diversifies sector exposure, with no single sector dominating [10][12][15] - Investors seeking income and a more balanced exposure may find RSPA's structure appealing, especially if they believe the current tech concentration will normalize [16]