AOA vs IVV
iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, AOA or IVV?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
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 | AOA | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.3B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.09% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 11 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +9.00% | +11.03%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.38% | +15.62%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.76% | +20.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +12.61%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4%Best | -33.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,064 | $18,109Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2008 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 11, 2008 to Sep 16, 2026 (17.8 years).
AOA 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 17.8 years both funds cover.
AOA vs IVV Performance
iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) 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 AOA returned +13.38% while IVV returned +15.62%. Year to date, AOA is up 9.00% versus a gain of 11.03% for IVV.
Over three years, AOA compounded at +16.76% per year against +20.81% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +8.54% and +12.61% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.15% annualized vs +8.58%.
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 12.9% for AOA. 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 -28.4% for AOA 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AOA charges 0.15% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOA currently yields 2.09% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of AOA's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings AOA also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 8 positions we hold weights for in AOA and 490 in IVV, against full books of 11 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for AOA (98.5% of the fund), and 7 for AOA that do not appear in IVV (99.8%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AOA | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.14% | 0.15% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AOA 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, AOA or IVV?
AOA has an expense ratio of 0.15% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOA or IVV?
Over the past year AOA returned +13.38% vs +15.62% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AOA annualized +8.58% vs +13.15% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOA or IVV?
IVV has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 12.9% for AOA. Worst drawdown: AOA -28.4% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both AOA and IVV?
AOA and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AOA or IVV?
AOA yields 2.09% while IVV yields 1.06%, so AOA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than AOA?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.