AAXJ vs IVV
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AAXJ or IVV?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAXJ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.32% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 959 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +21.48%Best | +12.39% |
| 1Y Return | +29.05%Best | +16.61% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.81%Best | +21.38% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.65% | +13.51%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4% | -47.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,141 | $18,844Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.9% | 37.8%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2008 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2008 to Sep 18, 2026 (18.1 years).
AAXJ vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 18.1 years both funds cover.
AAXJ vs IVV Performance
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year AAXJ returned +29.05% while IVV returned +16.61%. Year to date, AAXJ is up 21.48% versus a gain of 12.39% for IVV.
Over three years, AAXJ compounded at +23.81% per year against +21.38% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +8.65% and +13.51% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +10.76% annualized vs +5.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 15.7% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -49.4% for AAXJ and -47.8% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAXJ charges 0.72% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $3 annually, a gap of $69 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAXJ currently yields 1.32% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of AAXJ's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.2% of IVV's money is in holdings AAXJ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 840 positions we hold weights for in AAXJ and 490 in IVV, against full books of 959 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 480 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for AAXJ (98.4% of the fund), and 6 for AAXJ that do not appear in IVV (8.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAXJ and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAXJ or IVV?
AAXJ has an expense ratio of 0.72% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $69 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAXJ or IVV?
Over the past year AAXJ returned +29.05% vs +16.61% for IVV, so AAXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AAXJ annualized +5.32% vs +10.76% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAXJ or IVV?
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 15.7% for IVV. Worst drawdown: AAXJ -49.4% vs IVV -47.8%.
Should I hold both AAXJ and IVV?
AAXJ and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAXJ or IVV?
AAXJ yields 1.32% while IVV yields 1.06%, so AAXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than AAXJ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, IVV over 5Y and the full window. IVV is less concentrated, with 37.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.