AGZ vs IVV
iShares Agency Bond ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AGZ or IVV?
Short Term Government Bond against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | AGZ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $630M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.70% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 102 | 508 |
| YTD Return | -0.16% | +11.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.03% | +17.57%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.03% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.92% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.7%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.1%Best | -33.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,469 | $18,262Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Government Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 5, 2008 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 7, 2008 to Sep 10, 2026 (17.8 years).
AGZ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AGZ vs IVV Performance
iShares Agency Bond ETF (AGZ) 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 AGZ returned +1.03% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, AGZ is down 0.16% versus a gain of 11.57% for IVV.
Over three years, AGZ compounded at +4.03% per year against +20.71% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +0.92% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +12.98% annualized vs +1.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 2.7% for AGZ. 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 -12.1% for AGZ and -33.9% 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 0.06. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AGZ charges 0.20% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AGZ currently yields 3.70% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of IVV's money is in holdings AGZ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for AGZ, our book for it covers 79.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in AGZ and 505 in IVV, against full books of 102 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AGZ | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.47% | 0.18% | 0.29% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AGZ 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, AGZ or IVV?
AGZ has an expense ratio of 0.20% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AGZ or IVV?
Over the past year AGZ returned +1.03% vs +17.57% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AGZ annualized +1.14% vs +12.98% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AGZ or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 2.7% for AGZ. Worst drawdown: AGZ -12.1% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both AGZ and IVV?
AGZ and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.06, 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, AGZ or IVV?
AGZ yields 3.70% while IVV yields 1.06%, so AGZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than AGZ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.