ASCI vs IVV
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ASCI or IVV?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.8%.
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 | ASCI | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $67M | $850.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.78% | 1.09% |
| Holdings | 106 | 1,018 |
| YTD Return | +2.47% | +10.70%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.72% | +11.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.04% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.65% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 12.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.2% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,414 | $11,357Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.3%Best | 38.8% |
| Fund Family | Aberdeen | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 1996 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2025 to Nov 10, 2026 (1.1 years).
ASCI 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
ASCI vs IVV Performance
abrdn International Small Cap Active ETF (ASCI) is an ETF from Aberdeen and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ASCI returned +3.72% while IVV returned +11.31%. Year to date, ASCI is up 2.47% versus a gain of 10.70% for IVV.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ASCI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 12.9% 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 -11.2% for ASCI and -8.9% 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ASCI charges 0.70% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ASCI currently yields 0.78% against 1.09% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 49 holdings in ASCI and 505 in IVV, totalling 95.7% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 49 positions we hold weights for in ASCI and 505 in IVV, against full books of 106 and 1,018.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 499 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for ASCI (99.6% of the fund), and 3 for ASCI that do not appear in IVV (5.8%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ASCI 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, ASCI or IVV?
ASCI has an expense ratio of 0.70% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ASCI or IVV?
Over the past year ASCI returned +3.72% vs +11.31% for IVV, so IVV leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ASCI annualized +3.76% vs +12.26% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ASCI or IVV?
ASCI has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 12.9% for IVV. Worst drawdown: ASCI -11.2% vs IVV -8.9%.
Should I hold both ASCI and IVV?
ASCI and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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, ASCI or IVV?
ASCI yields 0.78% while IVV yields 1.09%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than ASCI?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. ASCI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.