How Can I Beat the S&P 500? What the Evidence Says
The honest answer to the most asked question in investing: how many people beat the index, why it is so hard, why investors trail even their own funds, and how daily market context fits in.
ETFsInsight
IDEV ETF vs the S&P 500: Returns, Risk and Crash History
iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF (market value $33.8 billion): how it compared with the S&P 500, how it behaved in every crash since 2008, its risk‑adjusted returns. Returns to Oct 30, 2026.
Key takeaways
- IDEV returned +50.9% over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026 versus +75.9% for the S&P 500: it lagged the index.
- Its 5-year Sharpe ratio was 0.37 against 0.58 for the S&P 500.
- Its deepest crisis drawdown was −33.8% in the covid crash (feb–mar 2020) (S&P 500: −34.1%).
- Five‑year volatility was 16.2% and beta 0.81.
What is your own portfolio exposed to? Check it with Exent →
In this article
- Did IDEV beat the S&P 500?
- Is IDEV good for retirement?
- IDEV returns by year vs the S&P 500
- IDEV risk-adjusted returns: Sharpe, Sortino and volatility
- How IDEV behaved in past crashes
- What moves with IDEV, and what doesn’t
- What does IDEV hold?
- The right benchmark for IDEV
- Other popular ETFs
- Data and methodology
Did IDEV beat the S&P 500?
Over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026, iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF (IDEV) returned +50.9% including dividends, versus +75.9% for the S&P 500 (SPY). It lagged the index by 25.0 percentage points, or +8.6% a year against +12.0%.
| Period | IDEV | S&P 500 | IDEV per year | S&P 500 per year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | +14.3% | +12.0% | +14.3% | +12.0% | Beat |
| 3 years | +74.3% | +87.4% | +20.3% | +23.3% | Lagged |
| 5 years | +50.9% | +75.9% | +8.6% | +12.0% | Lagged |
| Period | 1 year | 3 years | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDEV | +14.3% | +74.3% | +50.9% |
| S&P 500 | +12.0% | +87.4% | +75.9% |
| IDEV per year | +14.3% | +20.3% | +8.6% |
| S&P 500 per year | +12.0% | +23.3% | +12.0% |
| Result | Beat | Lagged | Lagged |
Total return with dividends reinvested, from month-end prices to Oct 30, 2026. Beating the index on raw return is only half the story: the next section adjusts for the risk taken. See also how to beat the S&P 500.
Is IDEV good for retirement?
IDEV can be a core retirement holding. It is iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets (MSCI World ex USA IMI), Canada included. About 2,300 developed-market stocks of all sizes at 0.04%.
Pros
- Includes Canada (unlike IEFA) but keeps South Korea in emerging, so it pairs with IEMG without overlap.
Cons
- Semi-annual distributions; a younger, smaller fund (2017).
When it is the wrong choice: If you pair it with VWO: VWO excludes Korea, and so does IDEV, leaving a gap.
Similar ETFs to compare
| ETF | Expense ratio | Why consider it |
|---|---|---|
| IDEV | 0.04% | this fund |
| IEFA | 0.07% | MSCI EAFE IMI: same idea without Canada |
| VEA | 0.03% | FTSE developed: adds South Korea |
Fits: International ETFs for retirement. Compare: VEA vs IEFA vs SCHF: Developed International ETFs Compared. How to choose: Best ETFs for Retirement in 2026: How to Choose by Age and Situation.
Source: the benchmark, MSCI World ex USA IMI Index, and the fund’s mechanics were checked on the iShares (BlackRock) IDEV fund page on Oct 25, 2026. Expense ratios are from the issuers; trailing returns quoted here are issuer NAV returns to September 30, 2026, and drawdowns, calendar-year returns and trailing yields are Exent market data (daily total return, distributions reinvested) over the same period. Educational, not a recommendation for your situation.
IDEV returns by year vs the S&P 500
IDEV beat the S&P 500 in 2 of the 8 full calendar years shown.
| Year | IDEV | S&P 500 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to Oct 30, 2026) | +9.8% | +11.7% | −1.9% |
| 2025 | +32.6% | +17.7% | +14.9% |
| 2024 | +4.6% | +24.9% | −20.3% |
| 2023 | +17.4% | +26.2% | −8.8% |
| 2022 | −15.0% | −18.2% | +3.2% |
| 2021 | +13.0% | +28.7% | −15.7% |
| 2020 | +8.3% | +18.3% | −10.0% |
| 2019 | +23.2% | +31.2% | −8.0% |
| 2018 | −14.1% | −4.6% | −9.5% |
IDEV risk-adjusted returns: Sharpe, Sortino and volatility
Over 5 years, IDEV had a Sharpe ratio of 0.37 against 0.58 for the S&P 500, so it earned less return per unit of risk than the index. Its annualized volatility was 15.6% and its beta 0.81: it tended to move about 0.8× as much as the market.
| Metric | IDEV | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual return | +8.6% | +12.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.37 | 0.58 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.56 | 0.91 |
| Max drawdown (month-end) | −27.5% | −23.9% |
| Beta to the S&P 500 | 0.81 | 1.00 |
How IDEV behaved in past crashes
IDEV’s deepest fall in the crises below was −33.8% in the covid crash (feb–mar 2020), against −34.1% for the S&P 500. The last column turns that into money: what a $100,000 position would have lost from peak to trough.
| Crisis | IDEV | S&P 500 | Loss on $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 trade-war selloff | −18.0% | −20.2% | −$18,040 |
| COVID crash (Feb–Mar 2020) | −33.8% | −34.1% | −$33,830 |
| 2022 inflation bear market | −29.8% | −25.4% | −$29,770 |
| 2025 tariff selloff | −13.4% | −19.0% | −$13,410 |
| Window | IDEV max drawdown |
|---|---|
| Last 1 year | −11.2% |
| Last 3 years | −13.4% |
| Last 5 years | −29.2% |
| Last 10 years | −38.4% |
Peak‑to‑trough declines from daily prices inside each crisis window. A crash replay does not predict the next crisis; it shows how much room a holding needs. Run the same replay on a whole portfolio with the crash test.
What moves with IDEV, and what doesn’t
Correlation runs from −1 (moves opposite) to +1 (moves in lockstep). Over the last 60 months of monthly returns, IDEV’s correlation with the S&P 500 was 0.80, with the Nasdaq‑100 0.64, with long Treasuries (TLT) 0.65 and with gold (GLD) 0.44.
Adding a 5% IDEV position to an S&P 500 portfolio would have moved its 5‑year volatility from 15.5% to 15.3%.
| Least correlated large caps | Correlation | Most correlated large caps | Correlation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRWD | 0.04 | MCO | 0.75 |
| NET | 0.09 | BLK | 0.72 |
| PANW | 0.11 | GE | 0.69 |
| REGN | 0.12 | FCX | 0.68 |
| PLTR | 0.12 | ADI | 0.67 |
Holdings that are highly correlated behave like one position in a selloff. See how to find hidden overlap.
What does IDEV hold?
As of Oct 20, 2026, IDEV held 2,272 positions; its 10 largest made up 10.9% of the fund. The largest was ASML.AS (Asml Holding) at 2.28%.
| Holding | Name | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| ASML.AS | Asml Holding | 2.28% |
| ROP.SW | Roche Ps Par Ag | 1.13% |
| HSBA.L | Hsbc Holdings Plc | 1.10% |
| SHEL.L | Shell | 1.06% |
| NOVN.SW | Novartis Ag | 0.96% |
| RY.TO | Royal Bank of Canada | 0.95% |
| NESN.SW | Nestle Sa | 0.90% |
| AZN.L | Astrazeneca Plc | 0.87% |
| 8306.T | Mitsubishi Ufj Financial Group | 0.82% |
| SAP.DE | Sap | 0.80% |
From the fund’s latest published holdings. Overlap by weight adds up, for every stock both funds hold, the smaller of its two weights: 100% would mean the same portfolio. How much do VOO, QQQ and VTI overlap?
The right benchmark for IDEV
Exent matches every holding to the index with the most similar risk. For IDEV that is SPY (the S&P 500). Comparing a holding with an index that carries very different risk makes good results look bad and risky ones look clever. Read why the S&P 500 is the wrong benchmark for most portfolios.
Other popular ETFs
| Ticker | Name | 5‑year return | Volatility (5y) |
|---|---|---|---|
| VTI | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund ETF Shares | +68.1% | 17.4% |
| VOO | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | +76.5% | 16.8% |
| IVV | iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | +76.5% | 16.9% |
| SPY | State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | +75.9% | 17.0% |
| 1557.T | SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | +78.6% | 20.8% |
| VXUS | Vanguard Total Intl Stock Idx Fund | +47.5% | 16.0% |
| QQQ | Invesco QQQ Trust | +84.3% | 22.3% |
| VUG | Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares | +66.9% | 22.2% |
Data and methodology
Returns are total returns from month‑end adjusted closing prices (dividends reinvested) through Oct 30, 2026. Crisis drawdowns and trailing maximum drawdowns use daily prices. Analyst coverage counts ratings published in the last 12 months, shown with a 30‑day delay. Full method: Exent methodology.
Holdings and weights are the fund’s latest published holdings; ETF overlap compares those holdings stock by stock.
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Historical figures are calculated by Exent from market data and are for education only; they are not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
See what IDEV does to your own portfolio
- Upload a screenshot of your holdings (or a CSV, Excel, PDF or Google Sheet); no brokerage login.
- Exent replays your whole portfolio, IDEV included, through the 2008, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2025 selloffs and shows which holdings drive the losses.
- It finds holdings that move together with IDEV and compares your portfolio with a risk‑matched benchmark, Sharpe and Sortino included.
- Use the what‑if simulator to change weights and see the effect before you trade.
Frequently asked questions
IDEV can be a core retirement holding. It is iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets (MSCI World ex USA IMI), Canada included. About 2,300 developed-market stocks of all sizes at 0.04%. It is a poor fit if you pair it with VWO: VWO excludes Korea, and so does IDEV, leaving a gap.
IDEV charges 0.04% a year. Lower-cost ETFs to compare: VEA at 0.03% (FTSE developed: adds South Korea). Expense ratios as of Oct 25, 2026 (issuer data where available, otherwise Exent market data); check that the exposure, not just the fee, matches what you want.
No. IDEV returned +50.9% (+8.6% a year) over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026, versus +75.9% (+12.0% a year) for the S&P 500, including dividends.
IDEV fell −33.8% from peak to trough during the covid crash (feb–mar 2020), versus −34.1% for the S&P 500.
IDEV fell −29.8% from peak to trough during the 2022 inflation bear market, versus −25.4% for the S&P 500.
Over the 5 years to Oct 30, 2026, IDEV’s Sharpe ratio was 0.37 and its Sortino ratio 0.56, versus 0.58 and 0.91 for the S&P 500.
IDEV’s 5‑year annualized volatility was 16.2%, lower than the S&P 500’s 17.0%, with a beta of 0.81.
Among large US stocks, the lowest correlations with IDEV over the last 60 months were CRWD (0.04), NET (0.09), PANW (0.11). Its correlation with long Treasuries (TLT) was 0.65 and with gold (GLD) 0.44.
Sources
- iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF (IDEV) fund page — iShares (BlackRock), Oct 25, 2026
What would IDEV do to your portfolio?
Exent replays your whole portfolio through the same crashes, finds holdings that move together and compares you with a risk‑matched benchmark. Upload a screenshot; results in about a minute.
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Educational content, not investment advice. Examples are illustrative; past performance does not guarantee future results.